SAN  DIEGO 


KISMET 


KISMET 

AN    "ARABIAN    NIGHT" 

IN  THREE  ACTS 


BY 

EDWARD    KNOBLAUCH 


NEW  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


Copyright,  1911, 
By    Edward     Knoblauch 


TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 
RICHARD    BURTON 

ONE  OF  THE  GREATEST  OF  ENGLISHMEN  AND  ONE 

OF  THE  LEAST   UNDERSTOOD  ;    WITHOUT 

WHOM  THIS  PLAY  NEVER  COULD 

HAVE    BEEN    WRITTEN 


2013907 


CHARACTERS 

(/»  order  of  their  appearance) 

MEN 
RA/J 

THE  MUEZZIN 

THE  IMAM  MAHMUD 

A  MUFTI 

THE  GUIDE  NASIJI 

THE  SHEIKH  JAWAN 

THE  BEGGAR  KASIM 

AMRU  )  OL     i 
ZAYD    /  Shopkeepers 

AMRU'S  APPRENTICE 

ZAYD'S  APPRENTICE 

THE  CALIPH  ABDALLAH 

THE  WAZIR  ABU  BAKR 

THE  WAZIR  MANSUR 

KAFUR,  Mansur's  sworder 

AFIFE,  his  secretary 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  WATCH 

AN  ATTENDANT  OF  MANSUR 

A  CHAMBERLAIN  OF  THE  CALIPH 

A  HERALD  OF  THE  CALIPH 

A  BLIND  MAN 

A  CHINAMAN 

THK  GAOLER  KUTAYT 


WOMEN 

MARSINAH,  Hajj's  daughter 
NARJIS,  her  nurse 
KABIRAH,  an  old  woman 
MISKAH,  a  slave 
KUT-AL-KULUB,  Mansur's  first  wife. 

GUARDS,  WAZIRS,  DIGNITARIES,  COURTIERS,  SOLDIERS, 

EUNUCHS,  SHOPKEEPERS,  BUYERS,  ETC. 
WOMEN  OF  THE  HARIM,  DANCERS,  SLAVES,  ETC. 

BEFORE  THE  CURTAIN 

THE  MAN 
THE  WOMAN 
THE  STORY  TELLER 
THE  JUGGLER 
THE  DANCER 


ACT   I 

MORNING 

SCENB      I.    A  Street  before  the  Mosque  of  the  Carpenters. 
II.    The  Suk  (Bazaar  Street)  of  the  Tailors. 

III.  The  Courtyard  of  a  poor  House. 

IV.  A  Hall  in  the  Wazir  Mansur's  Mansion. 

ACT    II 

AFTERNOON 

SCENB      I.    A  Hall  in  the  Wazir  Mansur's  Mansion.     (Same 
as  Act  /.,  Scene  IV.) 

II.     The  Courtyard  of  a  poor  House.    (Same  as  Act  /., 
Scene  III.) 

III.  The    Diwan  (Audience   Hall)  of   the    Caliph's 

Palace. 

IV.  The  Prison  of  the  Palace. 

ACT   III 
EVENING 
SCENB      I.    The  Hammam  of  Mansur's  Harim. 

II.    A  Street  before  the  Mosque  of  the  Carpenters. 
(Same  as  Act  /.,  Scene  I.) 

The  scene  is  laid  in  the  Baghdad  of  the"  Arabian  Nights" 
The  action  takes  place  from  morning  to  night. 


CAST  OF  THE  PLAY 

AS  PRODUCED  AT  THE  KNICKERBOCKER  THEATRE, 

NEW  YORK,  25x11  DECEMBER,  1917 

MEN 

HAJJ         Otis  Skinner 

THE  MUEZZIN -        ...  T.  Tamamoto 

THE  IMAM  MAHMUD    ...        •*,        ...  Del  de  Louis 

A  MUFTI .,        ...        ...  John  Webster 

THE  GUIDE  NASIR       Sydney  Mather 

THE  SHEIKH  JAWAN Sheridan  Block 

THE  BEGGAR  KASIM Macey  Harlan 

AMRU        ...         Daniel  Jarrett 

ZAYD         Harrison  Carter 

AMRU'S  APPRENTICE Gregory  Kelly 

THE  CALIPH  ABDALLAH         Fred  Eric 

THE  WAZIR  ABU  BAK&          Henry  Mitchell 

THE  WAZIR  MANSUR Hamilton  Revelle 

KAFUR      George  Relph 

AFIFE       Bennett  Kilpack 

CAPTAIN  OF  THE  WATCH      Richard  Scott 

AN  ATTENDANT  OF  MANSUR...        ...  William  Lorenz 

A  CHAMBERLAIN  OF  THE  CALIPH    ...  Thomas  Audley 

THE  GAOLER  KUTAYT ...  Martin  Sanders       ^ 

WOMEN 

MARSINAH ...  Rita  Jolivet 

NARJIS      Georgia  Woodthorpe 

KABIRAH Amelia  Barleon 

THE  ALMAH       ...        Violet  Romer 

MISKAH Merle  Maddern 

Kirr-AL-KULUB ...  Eleanor  Gordon 

BEFORE  THE  CURTAIN 

THE  MAN  Ernest  Leeman 

THE  WOMAN      Roma  Devonne 

THE  STORY  TELLER     ...        Mervyn  Rentoul 

THE  JUGGLER     ...        ...        ...        „.  Youna 

THE  DANCER Violet  Romer 


The  Play  produced  by  HARRISON  GREY  FISKE 
The  Music  composed  by  WILLIAM  FURST 
The  Costumes  designed  by  PERCY  ANDERSON 


0    r^x--** 


CAST  OF  THE  PLAY 

AS  PRODUCED  AT  THE  GARRICK  THEATRE,  LONDON, 
IQTH  APRIL,  1911 

MEN 

HAJJ «         Oscar  Asche 

THE  MUEZZIN       Alfred  Bristowe 

THE  IMAM  MAHMUD       Charles  A.  Doran 

A  MUFTI     Arthur  Trantom 

THE  GUIDE  NASIR          ...        ...        ...  R.  Ian  Penny 

THE  SHEIKH  JAWAN       Caleb  Porter 

THE  BEGGAR  KASIM       ...        ...        ...  Tripp  Edgar 

AMRU  Athol  Forde 

ZAYD  R.  F.  Anson 

THE  CALIPH  ABDALLAH Ben  Webster 

THE  WAZIR  ABU  BAKR Ewan  Brooke 

THE  WAZIR  MANSUR       Herbert  Grimwood 

KAFUR          George  Relph 

AFIFE  „        ...  A.  Winspeare 

CAPTAIN  OF  THE  WATCH          D.  Atherton 

AN  ATTENDANT  OF  MANSUR    H.  Franklin 

A  BLIND  MAN       E.  Adeney 

A  CHINAMAN         Gordon  Harker 

A  CHAMBERLAIN  OF  THE  CALIPH       ...  G.  Fitzgerald 

THE  GAOLER  KUTAYT J.  Fritz  Russell 

WOMEN 

MARSINAH  ...        ...        Lily  Brayton 

NARJIS          Bessie  Major 

KABIRAH     ...        ...        D.  England 

THE  ALMAH  ..         ...  Nancy  Denvers 

MISKAH        „         ...  Muriel  Hutchinson 

KuT-AL-KULUB      Saba  Raleigh 

BEFORE  THE  CURTAIN 

THE  MAN Ernest  Leeman 

THE  WOMAN         ...        ...        Dorothy  Moulton 

THE  STORY  TELLER        Ewan  Brooke 

THE  JUGGLER        E.  Selton 

THE  DANCER         Nancy  Denvers 

The  Play  produced  by  OSCAR  ASCHE 

The  Music  composed  by  CHRISTOPHER  WILSON 

The  Costumes  designed  by  PERCY  ANDERSON 


NOTES 

The  exclamation  "  Yehh ! "  which  occurs  in  the  play,  is  an 
Arab  cry  of  surprise  ;  the  exclamation  "  Awah  !  "  or  "  Wah  !  " 
a  cry  of  grief,  synonymous  with  "Alas!"  In  both  cases  the 
final  "h"  is  pronounced  gutturally,  something  like  the  "ch" 
in  the  German  "  Ach  1 "  or  Scotch  "  Och  I " 

The  rhymed  prose  which  occurs  in  moments  of  emotion  is  a 
peculiarity  of  Arab  speech  and  literature.  There  are  endless 
examples  of  it  in  Burton's  "  Arabian  Nights." 

In  addressing  a  person,  "O"  is  always  used  as  "O  Hajj." 
If  "O"  is  left  out  it  is  the  sign  of  deliberate  insult.  This 
"  O  "  is  not  emphasised  except  when  expedient. 


KISMET 


A.  large  arch  of  Arabian  design,  with  small  doors  right 
and  left,  frames  in  the  whole  picture. 

The   MAN  enters  from   the  door  of  his  house 
seats  himself  and  sings  : 

Lo  !     StiH  the  stars  of  latter  night  are  spread  ! 
Yet  hath  sleep  stolen  from  my  lonely  bed. 
So  will  I  sit  me  on  my  rooftop's  height, 
To  cool  my  sadness  till  the  dawning  red. 

The  WOMAN  enters  from  her  house  rightt  seats 
herself  and  sings  : 

Yehh  !    Still  the  moon  hangs  on  the  lips  of  night 

To  mock  my  solitude  with  love-deligb*.  f  C/- 

O  heavy  hour  of  a  longing  breast, 

Thy  weight  will  crush  me  ere  the  t'Cf  ak  of  light ! 

The  MAN 

Wah !      That    some    song  might    soothe 

oppress'd, 
Some  ancient  melody  of  days  more  bless'd. 

The  WOMAN 

Awah,  that  some  strange  tale  of  long  ago 
Might  by  its  magic  bring  my  bosom  rest  1 


14     BEFORE    THE    CURTAIN 

BOTH 

0  Thou,  Bestower  of  all  things,  bestow 
This  benediction  on  Thy  servant  low  1 

The  STORY  TELLER  enters  through  the  curtains 
and  speaks  : 

ITORY  TELLER.  Praise  be  to  Allah,  the  King  of  all 
Kings,  the  Creator  of  all  things  !  Who  like  to  a 
carpet  hath  spread,  the  Earth  to  our  tread.  And 
even  as  a  tent,  set  up  the  firmament,  overhead. 
And  on  Mohammed,  his  Prophet  among  men,  the 
blessing  of  blessings  again  and  again,  Amen.  (He 
sits.)  But  afterwards.  Verily  the  works  and  words 
of  those  gone  before  us  have  become  examples 
and  admonitions  to  the  men  of  our  later  day.  And 
of  such  a  kind  is  the  story  of  Hajj,  the  beggar, 
who  lived  his  life  in  this  our  peaceful  city  of  Bagh- 
dad, one  thousand  years  and  one  year  ago.  Now 
it  is  the  tale  of  his  day  of  the  days  that  I  will  relate 
unto  you,  O  auspicious  listeners.  Do  ye  take  heed 
therein  of  the  lesson  taught  by  Fate,  which  the 
poets  call  Kismet.  And  mark  well  the  chances 
and  changes  of  time  foredoomed  to  mortal  man : 
lifting  him  now  high,  now  sinking  him  low,  even 
as  the  bucket  in  the  well.  (He  rises.)  But  Allah 
alone  is  all  knowing. 

He  withdraws. 

The  MAN  and  WOMAN  rise  and  sing: 

1  hearken  with  my  heart  upon  the  ground, 

Nor  from  my  breathless  lips  shall  rise  a  sound : — 
Awake,  O  day  of  days,  and  run  thy  round  ! 

Then    they  turn  and  re-enter  their   respective 
houses.     They  have  not  seen  each  other. 


KISMET  15 


ACT   I 

MORNING 

SCENE  I.     A  Street  before  the  Mosque  of  the 
Carpenters. 

(Right  and  left  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  actor.) 

In  the  centre,  steps  lead  up  to  the  Mosque,  which  is  on 
the  right.  Only  the  lower  part  of  the  minaret  is 
visible.  A  large  stone  to  the  left  of  the  steps  forms 
a  rough  seat. 

It  is  just  before  dawn,  which  rises  rapidly ',  so  that  it  is 
daylight  by  the  end  of  the  scene. 

Asleep,  on  the  stone,  wrapped  in  his  beggar's  cloak  of  a  V  <^ 
hundred  rags  and  patches,  sits  HAJJ,  reclining 
against  the  angle  of  the  wall.  He  is  a  man  of 
about  fifty,  still  in  the  full  vigour  of  his  manhood. 
His  beard  is  thin  and  unkempt;  but  his  face  is 
keen,  shrewd  and  full  of  humour.  At  a  glance  he 
shows  himself  to  be  a  man  of  the  people^  who  lives 
by  his  wits,  untroubled  by  what  the  morrow  may 
bring  him .  At  present  he  is  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the 
Just  to  the  tune  of  a  hearty  snore. 

After  a  few  moments  of  peace,  steps  are  heard  in  the 
alley  left,  and  the  MUEZZIN,  an  old  man  of  seventy, 
appears  with  a  lanthorn  and  a  large  key.  He 
goes  to  the  door  of  the  Mosque  and  unlocks  it. 

Gwkb  b»igm  to  w&wfar  and  near. 


16  KISMET 

The  t{  brush  "  of  the  dawn  Appears  in  the.  s&y*  - 

HAJJ    (disturbed   by  the  clatter,  turns    and   yawns 
prodigiously — stretching  himself ".) 

*  HAJJ.     In  the  name  of  Allah, — Day? 

THE  MUEZZIN.     (Coming  towards  him.)     Peace   be 

on  thee,  O  Hajj. 
HAJJ.     And  on  thee,  peace  and  blessing,  O  my  friend. 

(The  MUEZZIN  enters  the  Mosque?) 

(IMAM  MAHMUD,  a  venerable  white  bearded  sage, 
appears.  HAJJ  stifles  a  yawn,  sits  up,  and 
assumes  his  beggar's  attitude — the  right  hand 
out,  the  head  dejectedly  on  one  side.) 

HAJJ.     (As  the  IMAM  comes  to  him  in  a  whining  sing- 

song.)     Alms,  for  the  love  of  Allah !     For  the  love 

of  Allah,  alms  ! 
MAHMUD.      (Handing    HAJJ   a  small  round   loaf.) 

Take  !     The  Giver  giveth  thee  this.    (He  crosses  in 

front  of  HAJJ  and  goes  ut>  the  steps.) 
HAJJ.     (Taking  the  bread.)     Verily,  thy  good  deeds 

shall  witness  for  the*  on  the  day  of  judgment,  O 

Mahmud. 
MAHMUD.     (Stopping.)    The  peace  upon  thee  and  a 

full  harvest  of  tears  and  pity  for  thy  poverty. 
HAJJ.     Nay,  sooner  pray  it  be  a  full  hand  of  silver 

and  gold. 
MAHMUD.    That  shall  be  even  as  Allah  foredooms. 

Naught  befalls  us  but  what  His  pen  hath  written. 
HAJJ.     Praise  be  to  Allah,  the  One,  the  Omnipotent. 
MAHMUD.     And  to  Mohammed  his  P/ophet,  whom 

Allah  bless  and  preserve.    (He goes  into  the  Mosque.)  (_ 

(HAJJ  looks  after  him,  grunts,  and  then  turns 
and  fumbles  behind  the  stone,  pulling  out  a 
chipped,  earthen  nig  of  water.  He  then 
mumbles  "In  the  name  of  Allah"  drinks 
from  the  jug  and  munches  his  bread,  smacking 
his  lips  loudly.) 


KISMET 

(Meanwhile^  from  the  minaret  the  voice  of  the 
MUEZZIN  is  heard  calling  to  prayer,  and  other 
distant  calls  to  prayer  may  be  heard  from 
various  quarters?) 

-Allah  is  Almighty,  Allah  is  Almighty ! 

There  is  no  God  but  Allah  1  ./There  is  no  God  but 

Allah  !•  / /' 

Come  ye  to  prayer !  Come  ye  to  salvation  ! 
Prayer  is  better  than  sleep  !  Prayer  is  better  than  sleep ! 
No  God  is  there  but  Allah  ! 

(Steps   resound  in   the  streets.      HAJJ   quickly 

conceals  his  bread  and  jug  behind  the  stone.  /?  ifjf* 
Men  now  come  at  intervals  by  the  two  alleys 
and  enter  the  Mosque.  At  the  threshold  they 
take  off  their  slippers  with  their  left  hand, 
entering  with  the  right  foot ',  ejaculating^  "In 
the  name  of  Allah?} 

HAJJ.     Alms  for  a  starving  brother.     Bind  a  body 
and  soul  together ! — O  master !     Thy  large  brow 
proclaims  an  open  heart.    A  danik  !     A  fils  !     ( The  £» 
MAN  gives  a  coin  and  passes  on.)     Heaven  hath 
seen  this,   O   my  master.      In   the   name   of  the     >.-,,  v 
CompassionaFing,  the  Compassionate  !    A  blessing 
on  thy  white  beard.     Thou  art  nearing  thy  grave  1 
Buy  thy  salvation  from  thy  slave.    ( The  MAN  passes 
on  murmuring  '''•Allah  will  give  it  thee")     Nothing. 
May'st  thou  burn  for  it,  O  thou  dog  !    ( To  another.)  *i>>0  •  1   £»    » 
O  brother,  mine  eyes  have  failed  me  !    (He  rolls  up 
his  eyes.)     Hast  thou  a  blind  father  or  one  dearest 
to  thee  groping  in  darkness?     (The  MAN  gives  a 
coin  and  passes  on.)     A  dirham  !    The  Bestower 
requite  it  thee,  O  my  lord.     (To  another.)    O  Azir, 
my  master,  I  see  thee  well,  though  it  scarce  be  day. 
Is  he  better,  thy  son,  the  light  of  thy  house  ?     Be 
his  fever  abated?    (The  MAN  passes  on  muttering 
"  Allah  will  provide")     Nought  ?     May  the  Ghuls      -7^    *•- 
suck  away  thy  bastard's  breath.     (To  another.)    O 

c 


18  KISMET 

stranger  1  Not  so  quickly.  Haste  is  from  Hell ; 
ft-will  wail  fui  thuu.  >  ( To  a  young  man)  O 
fair  youth,  a  trifle.  On  my  knees  have  I  lain  here 
these  endless  years. .  (The  MAN  gives  him  a  coin.) 
Th«  Protector  increase  thy  weal.  (To  the  MUFTI, 
an  old  man)  O  Mufti — a  word.  Thou  knowest 
the  bitterness  of  a  long  life  and  a  weary.  I  am 
young,  alas.  All  my  sad  days  stretch  before  me. 

THE  MUFTI.     Please  Allah  to-morrow 

HAJJ.  (Getting  between  the  MUFTI  and  the  steps  of  the 
Mosque)  Thou  dost  ever  say  to-morrow. 

THE  MUFTI.  (Laughing.)  And  is  not  to-morrow 
ever  to-morrow  ? 

HAJJ.  True.  The  stench  of  thy  soul  lessens  not 
from  dawn  to  dawn. 

THE  MUFTI.  Out  of  my  way.  (He pushes  past  HAJJ 
\  into  the  Mosque)  £ 

HAJJ.  With  joy  and  gladness — for  thy  way  leads  to 
/»,!-£'  damnation.  (Several  men  enter  singly  and  by  twos  as 

HAJJ  continues  in  a  sing-song  tone.)  Glory  be  to  Allah ! 
Upon  Allah  dependeth  daily  bread.  Thy  wealth 
is  not  thine  own,  O  rich  man.  Thou  art  as  poor 
as  the  poorest.  Allah  alone  giveth,  and  what  he 
giveth  belongeth  not  to  thee.  Thy  gold  is  but  a 
blessing  to  become  a  blessing.  Then  open  thy 
purse  and  let  the  afflicted  bend  to  the  holy  House 
of  Meccah  for  thee,  and  every  danik  out  of  thy 
hand  will  return  to  tbibe  a  thousandfold  through  the 
prayers  of  the  poor.  '  ^L^^  \, 

(Men  have  gone  into  the  Mosque,  some  giving  coin, 
others  passing  on.  From  the  street  on  the  ItfL  ' ' 
the  guide  NASIR  enters  conducting  the  SHEIKH 
JAWAN,  an  old  man,  who  is  leaning  on  two 
black  slaves  and  followed  by  two  others.  He 
is  clothed  completely  in  white,  his  face  veiled  by 
a  "  Taylasan,"  a  scarf  hiding  his  beard.  He 
is  over  sixty  and  paralysed  in  his  legs,  but 


u 


KISMET  19 

his  eyes  are  still  full  of  fire.  Two  SLAVES 
retire.  Slowly  the  SHEIKH  mounts  the  steps 
supported  by  the  other  Two  SLAVES.  — —  ^^ 

(HAJ  j  catches  hold  of  the  hem  of  his  cloak.)       ^*^ 

/  C  HAJJ.     Alms,  for  the  love  of  Allah  1    For  the  love  of  - 

Allah,  alms  !  £  lYfifl  1C 4 

U-     JAWAN.    (Turning.)    O  Hajj,  thou?  C'ti 

HAJJ.     (Surprised,  rising  and  following  him.)     Thou 

knowest  me  ? 

JAWAN.     Thou  still  here  mumbling  for  crusts  ?     (He 
laughs,  a  nasal  laugh,  mockingly)     He,  he,  he  1 

(NASIR  takes  off  JAWAN'S  slippers.) 

HAJJ.     (On  the  Mosque  steps)    Who  art  thou  ? 
JAWAN.    Who  am  I  ?    He,  he  1    Who  am  I  ?    He, 
he,  he ! 

(He  turns  with  his  slaves  and  goes  off  into  the 
Mosque  followed  by  the  guide  NASIR.) 

(HAJJ  looks  after  him  mystified  and  riveted  by  a 
haunting  memory ;  then  slowly  regains  his 
seat,  counting  his  profits  as  he  does  so.  "  One, 
two  three— five") 

(Meanwhile  KASIM,   a  young,  ragged,  one-eyed 

beggar,  has  come  and  sat  down  on  HAJJ'S  seat.  •  .«JL  c. ' 

He  is  busy  tying  some  strips  round  one  of  his 

legs,  quite  unconscious  of  usurping  anyone's   "  -. 

rights.     HAJJ  is  about  to  sit,  when  he  turns 

and,    seeing    KASIM,    exclaims    an    amazed 

"  Yehh  /  "   He  comes  slowly  up  to  the  intruder 

and  touches  him  provokingly  on  the  arm.) 

HAJJ.     (Squatting.)    And  what  may  thy  business  be  ? 
KASIM.     Canst  thou  not  see  ?    I  am  a  beggar  even 

as  thou. 
HAJJ.    Thou — even  as   I?    Thou?    Knowest  thou 


what  thou  say'st  ? 


C  a 


H 


20  KISMET 

KASIM.     My  ears  can  hear  my  tongue. 

HAJJ.  O  monstrous  piece  of  impudence  !  A  beggar 
even  as  I  ?  'Tis  plain  thou  art  a  stranger  to 
Baghdad.  I  tVb<\lfc-v  Vrt 

KASIM.  Thou  hast  said  it.  I  come  from  afar.  My 
name's  Kasim.  And  thou  ? 

HAJJ.     I?     I?    Ha!  ha!     (Patronistngly.)    O  thou 

*    poor  fool     But  there,  thou  art  a  stranger.     I  ?     I 

""  am  Hajj — Hajj,  the  beggar.  C  P^  «4uww*. 
/^     KASIM.     Hajj  ?    A  pilgrim  ?     Then  thou  hast  been 
to  Holy  Meccab,?  ^r*/.*..- — } 

HAJI.  Not  I !  Never  a  foot  have  I  stirred  beyond 
our  city  walls.  My  parents  called  me  Hajj  at  my 
birth,  so  that  the  sacred  title  might  win  me  added 
pity  from  the  passer-by.  Not  a  child  in  the  quarter 
but  calleth  me  thus  by  name.  I  have  sat  upon  that 
stone  these  fifty  summers  and  winters,  drinking  the 
sun,  and  more  oft  than  not  the  moon  too,  scorning 
the  pent-up  sleep  of  a  bed.>  4(fk^ 

KASIM.  (Sneeringly.)  These  fifty  summers?  Sayst 
thou  so  ? 

HAJJ.      (Excitedly.)      Yea!      And    before    me  my 

6  father  sat  there,  superb  in  rags,  and  before  him,  his ; 

and  so  on  to  the  beginning  without  beginning.    That 
stone,  O  Kasim,  is  my  legacy,  my  right,  my  strong- 
hold.    Not  till  this  hour  hath  man  dared  what  thou 
darest.  ft*s+~~i  ^  **  \ 
KASIM.    Then  this  hour  endeth  thy  kingdom.     I  am 

come  to  conquer,  f  v-** 

HAJJ.  I  pray  thee,  O  maggotty  head,  bandy  no 
N.words.  Go  get  thee  to  yon  corner  (He points  to  the 
corner  left)  if  it  like  thee.  Other  swine  have 
grovelled  there  in  their  time.  My  vilest  enemy  sat 
there  once,  these  many  weary  years  since.  Take  his 
place. 

KASIM.     I'll  not  budge  from  here. 
HAJJ.     How  sayst  thou  ?    Not  budge  ?    A  scum  like 
thou  ?    A  nail-pairing  ?    A  goat's  cheese  at  noon- 


KISMET  21 

tide  ?    Not  budge  ?    We  shall  see,  by  Allah  1    We 
shall  see  1  {_ 

(He  seizes  him  and  pushes  him  towards  the  corner?) 

KASIM.  Let  go  !  Let  go,  I  say  !  Ho,  Moslems, 
come  ye  to  my  help  !  Let  go  ! 

HAJJ.  (Holding  KASIM  at  arm's  length  and  kicking 
him.)  Let  go  ?  There  !  How's  that  to  thy  taste  ? 
Swallow  that,  an  thou  art  an-hungered.  A  dainty 
dish  of  foot,  and  more  to  follow.  One  —  two  —  three  ! 
Another  mouthful  ?  > 

(NASIR,  the  Guide  of  the  Sheikh,  has  come  out 
of  the  Mosque  and  stands  on  the  steps?) 

NASIR.     O  Hajj  !    By  the  All-knowing,  what's  this  ? 
HAJJ.     He'd    take    my    seat  —  this    nothing   from 

nowhere. 

KASIM.     (Rubbing  himself.}     I  want  not  his  seat. 
HAJJ.     Not  now,  —  now  that  I  have  made  thee  feel 

the  value  of  thine  own.  fl  L 

(KASIM  crawls  down  to  the  stone  left,  nursing 
his  kicks.)  <£    fi 

HAJJ.     (Sits  in  his  seat.)    A  joyous  day  indeed  and 

a  well  begun  1    What  with  this  one-eyed  dog,  and 

thy  miserly  stranger  —  (breaking  off.)   Allah!  Who  is 

he,  O  Nasir?  • 

NASIR.    (Evasively?)    A  man  of  the  men.    I  know  not. 
HAJJ.     O  brother  of  truth,  thou  knowest  full  well. 

Thou  art  guiding  him,  he  lodges  at  thy  Khan.     He 

called  me  by  name.     Who  is  he  ? 
NASIR.     (After  a  moment  of  hesitating?)      Harkee, 

O  Hajj.     I  have  a  plan  to  offer  thee.     An  thou 

wilt  fall  in  with  my  plotting,  'twill  mean  money  to 

both  of  us. 

HAJJ.     Money  ?     No  harm  in  that.     Speak. 
NASIR.     This  old  man  of  mine  has  been  a  famous 

highwayman  in  his  hour.     The  White  Sheikh  they 

were  used  to  call  him. 


22 


KISMET 


HAJJ.    The  White  Sheikh— he? 

NASIR.  Our  Caliph  deceased  set  his  troops  upon 
him  oft  and  oftener.  In  one  of  his  attacks,  he 
captured  most  of  the  robber's  band — his  little  son 
amongst  them,  a  mere  stripling  at  the  time,  f  j++~*y 

HAJJ.     Say  on. 

NASIR.  The  boy  was  spared  for  his  beauty.  If  he 
still  be  of  the  living,  his  age  must  reach  nigh  on 
thirty  summers.  Yet  all  these  endless  years  whilst 
the  last  Caliph  ruled,  the  Sheikh  dared  not  enter 
Baghdad.  Not  till  now,  that  the  young  monarch 
hath  mounted  the  throne,  hath  the  father  ventured 
at  last  in  search  of  his  son. 

HAJJ.  A  touching  tale !  And  how  forsooth  are  we 
to  coin  wealth  of  this  ? 

NASIR.  Did'st  thou  not  mark  how  broken,  how 
stricken,  the  old  man  is  ?  Never  was  there  such  a 
repentant  sinner.  All  his  moneys  are  spent  in 
charities ;  all  his  hopes  in  the  finding  of  his  beloved 
son,  Yusuf.  The  smallest  word,  the  faintest  promise 
from  priest  or  soothsayer,  and  his  hand  darts  into 
his  purse.  Now  dost  thou  see  dawn  ? 

HAJJ.  I  am  to  cast  myself  into  his  path.  What 
thou  hast  revealed,  is  to  flow  unto  me  as  in  a  vision. 

NASIR.  Thou  hast  it.  And  it  is  agreed,  whate'er  he 
bestows  on  thee,  we  share  by  halves,  like  honest 
Moslems  that  we  are. 

HAJJ.     So  it  please  the  Protector.     Leave  it  to  me. 

NASIR.  But  harkee,  O  clever  one,  thou'lt  do  it  care- 
fully ?  Draw  from  all  the  deepest  wells  :  a  father's 
longing,  a  father's  mad  despair.  Such  like  and 
more,  if  thou  canst. 

HAJJ.  If  I  can  ?  If  I  can  ?  Did  I  not  too  have  a 
son — many  years  gone  to-day, — a  babe  fair  as  the 
moon  !  Was  he  not  foully  murdered  ?  His  throat 
cut  across  ?  And  my  wife,  the  balm  of  mine  eyes, 
stolen  away  by  mine  enemy?  Yea,  sat  he  not 
where  yon  dog  sits  now — the  slaughterer  of  my 


23 

race  ?'   Doth  not /yon  stone  make  my  soul  ever  cry 
aloud  for  blood  revenge  ? 

NASIR.  So  thou,/too,  hast  felt  its  fire — a  father's 
love? 

HAJJ.  Felt  it  ?  i  Hearken  to  this,  O  Nasir — and 
Allah  pardon  me  for  unveiling  the  veiled  sex.  I 
have  a  daughter  now  of  fourteen  summers,  the 
child  of  a  late  spring  by  another  wife,  who  is 
dead,  alas !  The  maid  is  all  that  is  left  me  on 
earth  ;  dear  to  me  above  the  promises  of  Paradise. 
Yet  the  day  will  come  when  she  will  be  wed  and 
wived.  And  she  will  bear  the  burden  of  another's  J*  ^ 

posterity.     But   mine   own  race,  the  blood  of  my 
fathers,  once  I  am  called  to  rest,  where  will  it  be  ?  • 
/  I     J£  O  brother,  I  am  like  unto  a  date-palm  that  groweth 
aslant  the  pool,  and  whose  fruit  hath  fallen  into  the 
waters. 

(Men  begin  to  come  out  of  the  Mosque  and 
wander  off  by  the  two  alleys). 


(Dawn  is  giving  place  to  daylight). 

NASIR.      Prayer  is  over.     We  must  not  be  found 
together.  ^ 

(NASIR  retires  to  the  alley  itff,  and  beckons  to  the 
Two  BLACK  SLAVES,  who  join  him) 

(Meanwhile,  other  men  are  passing  HAJJ,  who 
begins  in  a  sing-song  tone,  but  has  left  his 
seat  so  as  to  intercept  the  Sheikh) 

HAJJ.     Alms  for  the  love  of- 


KASIM.     ( Whining).     Alms  for  the  love  of  Allah  t 
HAJJ.     (to  KASIM).     Silence,  thou  dog ! — (continuing) 

For  the  love  of  Allah,  alms.    The  grave  is  darkness. 

Charity  its  lamp.     Learn  to  love  poverty.    Be  good 

and  enter  Paradise.     Alms,  for  the  love  of  Allah  ! 

For  the  love  of  Allah,  alms  ! 


24  KISMET 

(The  SHEIKH  JAWAN  re-appears from  the  Mosque, 

C  pausing  on  the  step*,  supported  by  his  Two 
SLAVES.  JAWAN  conceals  his  face  from  HAJJ 
with  his  scarf.) 

HAJJ.     (Rising.)     O   Sheikh  of  sheikhs,  the   Peace 

upon  thee.     When  thou  spokest  before,  the  eyes  of 

my  memory  were  closed.     Now  they  are  open  and 

recall  thy  bounty  of  other  days. 
JAWAN.     Dost  thou  know  me,  indeed  ? 
HAJJ.     I  see  thy  soul  clear  as  in  crystal.     Thou  art 

come  from  afar  in  search  of  some  one  long  lost. 

'Tis  him  thou  seekest,  thy  son. 
JAWAN.    ^£b  1    This  is  strange.    Shall  I  reach  my 

desire  ?     £  I  U^-  X*~-\ 
HAJJ.    Thou  shall  see  thy  son  this  day. 
JAWAN.     Even  though  the  curses  of  my  foes  stand 

between  me  and  Allah  ?  (.  rjtvyv^C  ' 
HAJJ.     Thy  prayers  have  kilted  their  curses. 
JAWAN.     Wilt  thou  swear  to  that  ? 
HAJJ.     By  Him,  the  All-seeing,  the  All-hearing,  the 

All-knowing  I  swear  it  to  thee. 

JAWAN.     Will  thy  ragged  saintliness  bless  me  ?     Jjr**** 
HAJJ.     Allah's  blessing  upon  thee  and  thy  enterprise. 

May  thy   foes    be    confounded,    and    thy    hopes 

rounded. 

(A   slight  pause — then  JAWAN  bursts  into  un- 
controllable laughter — "  he,  he,  he,  he, 


JAWAN.     O  Hajj !    Dost  guess  what  thou  hast  done  ? 

See  !   (He  withdraws  the  scarf  from  his  face.)   Thou 

hast  blest  thine  enemy.     I  am  he  who  has  sat  at 

yon  corner  in  the  long  ago. 
HAJJ.  (Hoarsely).  Jawan ! 
JAWAN.  Yes,  Jawan !  He  that  stole  thy  wife  and 

stabbed  thy   squealing  brat  and  fled  the  city  at 

night. 
HAJJ.    Jawan, — the  beggar, — thou  ? 


KISMET  25 

JAWAN.     Jawan,  the  beggar,  no  longer  Jawan  the  „ 

beggar.    /Nay,  look  not  so  amazed.     My  wild  life        .^.  "****"*'' 
hath  oldened  me  more  than  thy  tame  life  thee.  /H*'wC/*^'»    1*1*** 


HAJJ.     Jawan ! 


JAWAN.  Dost  thou  doubt  me  ?  Hearken,  then,  and 
learn.  Thy  wife  and  I,  that  night  of  the  nights,  we 
rode  out  into  the  desert.  A  band  of  robbers  found 
us.  Time  and  lot  made  me  their  leader.  Twenty-  * 
five  years  I  was  their  chief.  Twenty-five  years  the 
Caliph  made  war  on  me  as  on  a  king — his  equal. 
And  I  was  his  equal  in  power,  in  prowess,  in  all — 
yea,  even  though  he  captured  my  son,  the  son  of 
thy  wife,  thy  beautiful  Gulnar. 

HAJJ.  9  k°f»»t  hog-fathered !  Allah  ruin  thee  for 
ever,  fv  vftfa 

JAWAN  (sneeringly),  Thou  dost  forget  thy  blessings 
of  a  moment  since.  (He  crosses,  ta  Nasir  and*  the 
other  slaves.)  i 

HAJJ.     I  blessed  thee  not.     I  blessed  an  unknown.  '•«. 

JAWAN.     No,  no,  me  by  the  Most  High,  the  Glorious 
it        — me.     And  'tis  thus  through  thee,  that  I  shall  find 
my  son  again.     Thou  hast  recalled  thy  curses.     The 
spell  is  broken  at  last. 

HAJJ.  Thou  shalt  not  live  to  find  him.  (He  springs 
towards  Jawan). 

(The  other  Two  SLAVES  draw  ugly  looking  dirks 
and  ward  off  HAJJ.) 

(HAJJ  stands  impotent  and  panting — "  Wah  I ") 
JAWAN.     Said  I  not  I  was  King  ?    Allah  send  thee  a 

long  lif<j,  Hajj,  and  a  happy. 
HAJJ.     Allah  send  thee  the  foul  fiend  and  a  thousand 

fires. 

JAWAN.  Too  late,  O  brother.  Thou  hast  stopped 
Heaven's  ears  ^vith  thy  blessings  !  Thy  curses  fall 
on  deafness^— -Behold !  A^-poQr  return  for  thy 
bounty  1  (He  throws  a  purse  at  KA^)  Up  and 
away! 


26  KISMET 

(The  SLAVES  turn  with  JAWAN  and  move  away 
by  the  alley  left,  N ASIR  preceding  them.) 

HAJJ.  (Desperately.)  Take  back  thy  blood  money. 
I'll  not  swallow  my  son's  blood !  Take  it  back,  O 
thou  grey-beard  of  hell  1  Take  it  I 

QAWAN  has  disappeared;  his  laughter,  "He,  he, 

he/"  is  heard  dying  away  in  the  distance.  f ,     f  ^ 
KASIM  crawls  from  his  seat  toward  the  purse.)  ?* 

HAJJ.  Laugh  I  Laugh  to  split  thy  spleen  !  But  By 
the  Decreer,  thy  day  shall  set !  For  I  have  found 
thee  !  Thou  art  alive  and  here, — and  I  too — I  am 
alive.  (Going  up  to  KASIM.)  Dost  thou  hear? 
Dost  thou  ? — I  have  found  him  !  He  is  back 
in  Baghdad,  he  who  sat  where  thou  sittest,  the 
butcher  of  my  race  !  I  shall  meet  him  at  last — hold 
him  by  the  throat,  the  dog  of  dogs,  and  (taking 
KASIM  by  the  throat.)  I  shall  strangle  him  with 
(choking  KASIM.)  These — two — thumbs  of  mine. 

KASIM.     (Choking.)     Brother — protection  ! 

HAJJ.  (Still  continuing,  in  his  fury.)  What  though  he 
be  guarded  by  slaves  with  swords  naked,  and  I, 
defenceless- 


KASIM.  (Gasping.)  Awah !  [  yUw-Uxj 
HAJJ.  I  shall  find  a  way  to  him.  Buy  it,  if  need  be  ! 
— Buy  ?  Yehh.  (He  throws  KASIM  aside  and  turns 
to  the  purse.)  And  with  his  gold.  His !  It 
smelleth  of  bloods  Every  coin  a  crime,  every  chink 
a  cry  for  vengeance.  Allah,  be  thou  my  witness  ! 
Only  for  this  do  I  touch  his  accursed  charity.  Only 
for  this!  ,-,,,  f  J 

KASIM.    Lookl^C*  *J 

(Several  men  come  out  of  the  Mosque.) 

HAJJ.  (Quickly  thrusting  the  purse  in  his  bosom, 
returns  to  his  stone,  beginning  his  sing-song  without 
looking  up.)  Alms  for  the  love  of  Allah  1  For 
the  love  of  Allah 

J 


KISMET  27 

KASIM.    Alms  for  the  love  of  Allah  !    For  the  love  of 

All •   < 

HAJJ.     (To  KASIM.)     Silence,  thou  louse-tap  ! 

(NASIR  re-enters  rapidly) 

NASIR.     I've  left  him  for  an  instant. 
»      a4oa»b.     The  purse.     How  much  is  mine  ? 

HAJJ.     The  purse  ? 
'    NASIR.     The  purse  he  threw  thee. 
HAJJ.     (Innocently)     I  saw  no  purse. 
NASIR.     Saw  no  purse  ?    Thou  art  jesting.     Out  with 

it.     Share. 
HAJJ.     Share  ?     Purse  ?     Know  I  what  he  threw  or 

not?    Sit   I   here   to  count  the  droppings  of  the 

street  ?    A  pretty  patron  thou  didst  serve  me.     Get 

thee  gone  !     Thou  art  a  rogue,  a  thief ! 
NASIR.     I,  a  rogue?    I,  a  thief?    (To  KASIM.)     Thou 

sawest   him  take  the  purse.     (HAJJ   secretly  drops 

the  purse  into  his  water-jug.)     I  call  thee  to  witness. 
KASIM.     I  saw  him  spit  on  it  and  turn  from  it  and 

curse  it. 
NASIR.     (Catching  hold  of  KASIM.)     Thou  hast  it. 

Thou  hast  taken  it  for  him. 
KASIM.    Alas,  O  brother,  not  I. 
NASIR.     Give  it  me  I    Give  it  me  I    Tis  not  thine  to 

keep. 

KASIM.     Strip  every  rag  from  me — thou'lt  not  find  it. 
HAJJ.     (Gleefully)     Strip  him  1    Strip  him  ! 
KASIM.     (Turning  with  fury  to  HAJJ.)     Thou  hast  it. 
HAJJ.     Aye,  strip  me  too.     Both  of  us,  so  it  give 

thee    pleasure.      Thou    shalt    behold   rare   sights. 

Strip  us — thy  slave  entreats  thee. 

(One  of  JAW  AX'S  NEGROES  appears  from  the  alley)  L-.  £ 
X  $    NEGRO.     O  Nasir.<xvnJL 
f^     HAJJ.     (Pointing  to  the  negro)     Thy  master  calls  ! 

NASIR.     O  thou  villain !     I  go  to  take  my  charge  back 
£t       to  the  inn.     But  after,  as  thou  lovest  life,  look  to 

thyself  and  thy  safety. 


28 


KISMET 


(He  hurries  off  after  the  NEGRO.) 

HAJJ.  (Shouting  after  him.)  The  Peace  upon  thee  ! 
Ha,  ha  ha  !  (He  takes  the  purse  out  of  the  water-jug^ 
putting  it  into  his  breast. ?)*£J$L  'if" 

KASIM.     (Laughing  obsequiously.)     Ha !     Ha  1     Ha ! 
(A  slight  pause?) 

KASIM.  (Crawling\over  to  HAJJ,  cringing.)  O  my 
master,  and  what  is  my  share  of  the  spoils  ? 

HAJJ.  (Imitating  KASIM.)  "  What  is  my  share  of  the 
spoils  ?  "  By  Solomon's  seal  ring  !  This  purse — 
whether  it  be  from  Heaven  or  from  Hell, — this  hath 
been  sent  by  Fate  to  me,  and  me  alone.  There  is 
a  purpose  in  this  purse.  The  scroll  of  destiny 
unrolleth  itself  to  mine  eyes.  I  see  the  writing  as 
in  flames. 

KASIM.     The  scroll? 

HAJJ.  Lookee,  all  of  us  have  an  allotted  hour.  This 
is  mine.  Here's  the  talisman  I  have  prayed  for, 
many  a  year  of  waiting.  The  weapon  to  my 
revenge — Gold ! 

KASIM.     What  wilt  thou  do  ? 

HAJJ.  I  shall  arise  from  the  seat  of  dejection. 
(Rises.)  My  days  of  mourning  are  over.  I  shall  get 
me  to  the  hammam-bath.  ( Walking  about.)  I  These 
rags  will  I  rip  from  me ;  the  waters  shall  wash  away 
my  weariness.  Robes  of  ease  and  decency  shall 
broaden  my  breast.  No  more  the  whining  voice 
and  bent  brow,  and  trembling  palm  of  poverty,  but 
head  back  as  a  fighter  of  the  faith,  shoulders  free, 
stride  bold  and  commandkig  as  a  king's,  yea,  as  he 
said,  even  as  a  king's.  NC**^y 

(He  walks  excitedly  up  and  down  and  throws 

his  beggar's  cloak  on  his  stone?) 
2%?lMAM  MAHMUD  has  come  out  of  the  Mosque 
and  stands  amazed  on  the  steps.) 

MAHMUD.  O  Hajj.  Are  thy  wits  fled?  What 
means  this  ? 


KISMET 


29 


HAJJ.     I  am  casting  my  beggardom  from  me.  ^  4, 

MAHMUD.     Thou  ? 

HAJJ.  Allah  hath  opened  the  Gate  of  Action  to  me. 
(Chinking  his  purse.}  With  a  golden  key  ! 

MAHMUD.  O  my  son,  I  fear  for  thee  the  chances  and 
changes  of  time.  Xjf  it*.,*.*^  «4.  t 

HAJJ.  Hath  not  the  Prophet  enjoined  blood 
vengeance  ?  I  am  resolved,  O  my  father.  Voyage 
is  victory.  Yet  ere  I  go,  thou  who  didst  ever 
remember  my  misery, — take  this  voluntary  for  the 
poor.  (He gives  MAHMUD  some  coin.) 

MAHMUD.  May  the  Protector  protect  thee  against  all 
woe,  may  He  forefend  thee  ever  against  thy  foe. 

KASIM.  (Going  to  HAJJ,  still  on  his  knees.)  And  I — 
am  I  to  have  naught  ? 

jj.  Thou?  (Pushing  him  to  the  stone.)  Take  thou 
my  stone,  my  ancestral  throne  !  Wrapped  in  my 
royal  robes,  hold  it  thine  own  !  As  for  me,  life 
calls.  The  day  is  mine  to  joy !  And  when  the 
night  falleth,  Allah  allowing,  I  shall  hold  mine 
enemy  >  in  the  hollow  of  my  hand  !  (He  strides  off  ti- 
the left,  Jus  purse  on  high,  full  daylight  upon  him.) 


30  KISMET 


SCENE  II.     The  Suk  (Bazaar  Street}  of  the  Tailors. 

A  narrow  street,  arched  over,  with  shops  on  both  sides. 
Arches  left  and  right.  A  large  centre  arch  at  the 
back  leads  off  to  other  parts  of  the  bazaar. 

(NOTE. — Much  of  the  following  action  and  dialogue  occurs 
simultaneously,  so  as  to  produce  a  harmonious  picture  rather 
than  separate  impressions.) 

In  a  shop  left  sits  ZAYD,  a  thin,  conceittd  man  of  forty  ;  he  has 
with  him  a  tiny  little  apprentice,  who  is  here,  there  and 
everywhere.  ./«  the  shop  right  (AMRu's  shop),  a  somewhat 
older  apprentice  is  unpacking  bales  of  stuff. 

It  is  early  morning.  The  life  of  the  street  is  awakening  to  the 
business  of  the  day.  As  the  curtain  rises  the  shopkeepers  are 
spreading  out  their  wares.  A  SWEETMEAT-SELLER  enters 
through  the  centre  arch.  He  bows  to  a  shopkeeper  and  passes 
on,  squatting  in  the  right  corner,  his  back  to  the  audience. 
His  cry  is,  "Hoi  Hoi  Swee-ts."  FRUIT-GIRLS  enter 
from  the  right  and  settle  down  in  the  left  corner  opposite 
him.  Their  cry  is  "Omani  peaches,  Osmani  quinces! 
Sultani  citrons  I  Li-mes  !  " 

Two  BEDOUINS  appear  and  walk  solemnly  down  the  street.  A 
CHINAMAN  enters,  followed  by  a  little  boy  carrying  fowls. 
The  CHINAMAN  goes  to  the  SWEETMEAT-SELLER  and  points 
to  the  sweets  with  his  fan. 

^^ 

CHiNAMAtf.    (In  a  squeaky  voice.)    This  I    This  I    This  I    How 

much  1     >L 

SWEETSELLER.     Three  daniks. 
CHINAMAN.     One!    One!    One! 
SWEETSELLER.     Two. 

CHINAMAN.     (Turning  away  to  the  left.)     One! 
SWEETSELLER.     (Rises  and  goes  after  him.)    One  and  a  half. 

(The  CHINAMAN  refuses  to  listen  to  him.) 

SWEETSELLER.    (Sitting  down  again.)    Hell  swallow  all  foreign 

dogs  ! 

,-        (JAWAN  enters  at  the  central  arch  supported  by  his  Two 
SLAVES  and  passes  down  the  street.) 


f 


KISMET 

(The  CHINAMAN  goes  to  ZAYD'S  shop\ 

ZAYD'S  APPRENTICE.     Allah  enlarge  thee,  O  traveller  from  the 

land  of  China, 

CHINAMAN.    Silk!    Silk!    Silk  I 
ZAYD'S  APPRENTICE.    Here's  Persianrtilk,  O  my  master  I   Kith, 

soft  silk. 
CHINAMAN.    (Pulling  it  about).    .Not    China  silk!    China  silk! 

This  bad  I    Bad!    (He  walk*  away.) 
ZAYD'S  APPRENTICE.     (Shoots  after  him).     Out  on  thee,  thou 

cat-faced  infidel! 


A  BOY  with  floyirs  comes  and  squats  down  near  the  fruit- 
girls.    Hisj/fy  is  : 

Jasmine  and  violets  fine, 
Pomegranate  bloom  and  eglantine." 

AN  OLD  MAN  with  a  donkey  appears  laden  with  jars  of  olive  oil, 
stops  at  ZAYD'S  shop  and  turns  to  the  apprentice. 

THE  OLD  MAN   (to  the  apprentice).     Here's  olive  oil  for  thy 

master. 
BOY.    Is  the  jar  full? 

THE  OLD  MAN.     Full  as  the  number  of  my  years. 
Bor.     Allah  make  them  a  thousand  in  number. 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARD  struts  majestically  through  theSnk. 
<p»        NASIR,  the  guide,  enters,  goes  to  ZAYD'S  shop  and  bargains  for 
a  sash ;  tries  it  on,  rolling  himself  into  it  and  out  of  it  as 
ZAYD  holds  one  end  of  it. 

Two  COURTESANS  appear  in  flimsy  veils  and  gorgeous  draperies. 
A  YOUTH  approaches  them  with  a  flower  he  has  bought  from 
the  flower-boy. 

THE  FIRST  COURTESAN  (to  the  Youth).    Fair  befall  thee,  O 

Youth  I    Art  thou  from  Baghdad  1    Art  thou  a  stranger! 
THE  YOUTH.     /  am  yours  from  wherever  I  am  ;  a  captive  to 

the  moon  of  your  faces. 
THE  OTHER  COURTESAN.     Thy  glance  is  bright  as  the  blade  of 

a  sword. 

THE  YOUTH.     And  thy  tongue  sharper,  no  doubt! 
THE  PORTER  (with  an  immense  bale  on  his  head,  to  one  of  the 

Courtesans).  Must  thou  trip  my  heels,  thou  stinking  armful? 
THE  COURTESAN.  Out  of  my  -way,  thou  son  of  a  burnt  father. 
AN  OLD  MAN  (to  a  Young  One).  Come  out  of  this  babel;  I 

am  sick  from  eating  to»  much  of  the  world. 


32  KISMET 

THE  YOUNG  MAN.  Nay,  I  have  only  begun  the  feast— I  am 
^on-hungered.  Look  at  this  shop,  O,iny  father! 

A ^ERCHANT.  What  -wilt  thou  buy,  O  my  brother  1  Silks? 
J&xchiefs  1  Girdles  t  Herts  afl  the  earth  gives  birth  to. 

AN  EfctfPTiAN  (with  a  little/girl,  to  a  boy  selling  beads.) 
What  manner  of  beads  are  these,  O  my  son  ? 

THE  BEADSBOY.  Beads  ffom  Damascus !  Beads  of  polished 
steel!  Glatf  beads  frotjl  Rhodes  !  Beads  clear  as  crystal  from 
the  land  of  China,  -whiter  than  sea-pearls  ! 

THE  EGYPTIAN  l«o  Jds  liltle  girl.)  What  shall  I  buy  thee,  O 
my  Pigeon  ?  TMsfe  beads  t  Or  those  1  Speak,  O  my  Lotus  I 

A  MAN  (to  one  or  roe  fruit-sellers.)  Is  thy  fruit  sweet,  O  my 
sister  t  (He  WKCS  up  some  fruit.) 

THE  FRUIT-SEALER,     fray  first  and  taste  after. 

A  MAN.     Tw  fruit  is  ovat-ripe. 

TH«  FRUIT^SELLER.     'Tirfresh  as  the  dawn-breeze. 

THE  MAjf.  O  my  little  ^ulip,  how  should  I  believe  theel 
Dost  tmou  not  belong  to  the  ^^^iversal  sisterhood  of  woman  ? 

THE  BRUIT-SELLER.  All  women  are  not  alike;  nor  are  the 
finxrs  of  the  hand  alike.  \ 

THE' SWEETMEAT-SELLER  (crying.)     Swee-ts!    Swee-tsl    No 
alter  sweets  in  Baghdad.     No  better  sweets  in  Baghdad.     They 
fare  made  by  my  cousin.     H£s  pastry-cook  at  the  palace. 
i  BUYER.     Allah  increase  thee  for  a  smooth-tongued  liar! 

THE  SWEETSELLER.     Taste  my  wares  and  ask  my  pardon  ! 

(And  so  it  goes.  G^ies  and  movement  everywhere.  The  shop- 
keeper's call  to  the  passer-by  is,  "  What  dost  thou  wantt  Dost 
thou  lack  kerchiefs,  shawls?"  Greetings  are  heard  such  as, 
"/  salute  thee  with  my  salaam!  Allah  increase  thee,  O  my 
brother  !  A  blessed  day  !  Allah  gladden  thee  with  good  news  / 
The  Bestower  increase  thee  ever  /"  Porters  plough  their  way 
through  the  crowd  calling  out,  "  Have  patience,  o  ye  people, 
have  patience."  Compliments  are  heard  such  as,  "  Thou  art 
like  the  moon  on  a  fourteenth  night !  Thy  body  sways  like  a 
thirsting  gazelle  !  Gifpn  by  the  Giver  art  thou  !  Thy  beauty 
•would  make  a  palapt  dance!"  And  words  of  anger  and 
impatience  such  ajftl  Begone  and  none  of  thine  impudence! 
Be  off!  By  Aaah,  this  is  not  allowed!  May  Allah  never 
bless  theel  Nyfriendly  welcome  to  thee!  Fie  upon  thee,  ill- 
omened  fellew?*'  The  hubbub  reaches  its  climax  as  a  WATER- 
CARRIER  enters,  shouting  loudly,  "  Water  1  Water,  coo-1 
and  clea-r ! "  He  is  stopped  by  two  negro  slaves,  who  buy 
cups  of  water  from  him.  Then  the  WATER-CARRIER  turns,  as 
AMRU,  a  stout  imposing  merchant  with  a  huge  beard,  comes 
down  the  street  and  approaches  him.  AMRU  takes  a  cup.  As 
he  does  so,  ZAYD  looks  up  from  his  shop  in  surprise  and  hurries 
out  of  it.) 


KISMET  33 

W4* 

ZAYD.     (Surprised.')     By  mine  eyes,  Amru  ! 
AMRU.     (Delighted.}     By  mine  eyes,  Zayd  ! 

(They  embrace,  one  arm  being  thrown  round  the 
shoulder,  the  other  round  the  side,  placing  the 
chin  first  upon  the  left  then  upon  the  right 
collar  bone  and  repeating  this  several  times. 
As  they  embrace  the  crowd  gradually  disperses, 
leaving  the  street  comparatively  empty.  But 
there  is  always  a  sense  0f  life  in  the  suk,  and 
the  hum  of  the  bazaar  is  heard  dimly  through- 
out the  scene.) 

ZAYD.  Welcome  and  well  come  and  good  cheer  to 
my  friend,  the  dearly-beloved.  So  thou  art  home 
from  Egypt  ?  (He  rrrnrnmr  h«nnir  \  frif  r*-/fr 

AMRU.  Yesternight  in  the  first  watch  I  caused  my 
camels  to  kneel  at  my  door.oAJ  Su*«*  H" 

ZAYD.  By  Allah  and  his  Apostle,  it  swells  my  heart 
to  hear  thy  voice  once  more  ?  Thou  hast  tarried 
many  moons^fcHas  thy  business  prospered  ? 

(The  little  apprentice  has  spread  out  cushions:  they 
both  sit.)     .'j,^-    #**£*} 


AMRU.     Fortune  hath  blessed  me  indeed.     And  thou  ? 

How  is't  with  thee  ? 
ZAYD.     Alas  !     Traffic  has  grown  dull  with  the  new 

Caliph. 
AMRU.     So  soon  ?     He  hath  been  in  power  but  seven 

days  they  tell  me. 
ZAYD.     He   is  very  young  —  searce  sixteen,  —  and  so 

devout  !    He  was  schooled  in  a  monastery  in  the 

mountains.     'Tis  said  his  harim  is  empty.     Not  a 

woman,  —  not  as  much  as  a  wife. 
AMRU.     Not  so  much  as  —  and  seven  days  !     By  the 

glories  of  Paradise  to  come  !     An  I  were  Caliph  for 

seven  days  I 

D 


34 


KISMET 


ZAYD.  An  I  were  Caliph  for  seven  hours  1  But  they 
say  that  he  is  waiting  to  find  the  woman  of  his 
dream,  a  maid  of  beauty  all  in-  -all.  Be  she  of 
noblest  blood  or  poorest  of  the  poor,  he  hath  taken 
oath,  until  Allah  reveal  the  chosen  one,  he  will  live 
alone,  —  unwed,  —  un  wived. 

(Kettledrums  are  heard  in  the  distance  to  the 


(AMRU  returns  to  his  shop  at  the  right.)  f  *>  • 

(The  crowd  hurries  in  from  all  sides.  Men 
and  women  all  kneel,  bending  low.  As  the 
CALIPH  enters  they  touch  their  foreheads  to  the 
ground.)  . 

(Through  the  cmint  arch  comes  the  Caliph's 
procession,  turning  down  and  disappearing 
through  the  arch  right.  First  come  Six 
ARCHERS  OF  THE  GUARD  with  lances.  Next 
follow  FOUR  MEN  with  KETTLEDRUMS  (like 
tom-toms)  and  a  pair  of  TRUMPETERS  :  then 
Six  ARCHERS  with  scymitars  drawn,  walking 
two  and  two.  After  that,  DIGNITARIES  of 
the  royal  household.  Some  singly,  others  in 
twos.  These  are:  the  Caliphs  slipper-bearer  ; 
his  cloak-bearer  ;  his  cup-bearer  ;  his  ewer  and 
basin-bearer  ;  his  bow-bearer,  and  his  carpet- 
spreader.  Next  the  two  head  EUNUCHS  of  his 
harim,  both  tall  blackamoors  clothed  in 
yellow.) 

(After  this,  at  an  interval  of  five  paces,  on  a 
white  mule,  the  CALIPH  himself,  robed  in  the 
black  of  the  Abbaside  dynasty.  His  face  is 
very  youthful,  full  of  spiritual  beauty  and 
weary  pride.  On  his  left  cheek  he  has  a  mole. 
By  his  left  side  walks  ABU  BAKR,  an  old, 
white-bearded  man,  clothed  in  green  and  white, 


KISMET  35 

with  a  very  large  turband,  holding  his  master's 
left  stirrup!) 

(As  the  CALIPH  reaches  the  centre  of  the  street, 
an  old  woman,  KABIRAH,  throws  herself  at 
his  feet ;  the  procession  halts!) 

KABIRAH.  O  King  of  the  age — justice  !  Justice  to 
an  ancient  widow  and  a  sore  oppressed !  (She  holds 
out  a  petition.) 

CALIPH.  (  Waving  to  ABU  BAKR  who  takes  the  petition.) 
Come  thou  to  my  Diwan  this  mid -afternoon.  None 
shall  suffer  wrong  under  this  my  sovereignty.  The 
Judge  of  Judges  be  my  .witness.  The  Peace  ! 

(KABIRAH  withdraws  muttering  "Heaven  increase 
thee  ever,  0  King")  ^J^ 

(The  procession  moves  on;  the  people  in  the  street 
remaining  crouched  and  motionless  as  the 
CALIPH  passes  them.') 

(A  COURT  DiGNiy^Aj^.jSg&'iff'ifi  KCnt^"^  com.) 
(Six  ARCHERS,  with  scymitars  drawn,  conclude 
the  procession.) 

(Directly  the  CALIPH'S  guard  is  out  of  sight  there 
is  a  wild  scramble  for  the  royal  largesse.  The 
rabble  then  follows  the  procession.) 

ZAYD.     (To  AMRU,   shouting    across    to    his    shop.) 

Didst  note  the  mole  on  his  cheek?    Is  he  not 

beautiful  ? 

AMRU.    Allah  bless  him  !    And  the  old  man  ? 
ZAYD.     Abu  Bakr,  his  tutor — a  far  famed  grammarian. 

He  entered  the  city  with  countless  camel-loads  of 

dictionaries.     'Tis  he  who  ruleth  the  ruler. 
AMRU.     Where's  Mansur — the  old  Caliph's  favourite  ? 

He  was  wont  to  ride  by  his  master's  side.   Hath  he 

fallen  from  power  ?  ^ 
ZAYD.     Nay,  he's  still  Chief  of  the  Guards  of  the  City 

and  Wazir  of  the  Police.     But  at  the  Palace  they 

D  2 


36  KISMET 

begin  to  whisper — (Seeing  MANSUR  ;  in  a  low  voice.) 
The  Peace  ! — Mansur  ! 

(MANSUR  appears,-' a  tall,  slim,  sinister  figure  of 
about  eight  and  twenty.  His  face  shows  traces 
of  beauty  ruined  by  debauchery  ;  his  manner  is 
that  of  an  expert  in  the  sensualism  of  cruelty  ; 
his  robes  are  of  deep  blue  and  steel.  He  is 
evidently  nursing  his  rage,  and  strides  along 
ominously.  Behind  him  comes  KAFUR,  his 
sworder,  a  snake-like  Ethiopian,  by  whose  side 
hobbles  a  small  hunchback  scribe,  AFIFE,  who 
looks  more  like  a  pelican  than  a  man.) 

(As  MANSUR  enters,  a  BLIND  MAN  crosses  his 

path.)    /X  &jt<» 

THE  BLIND   MAN.  *"Blmd !    Blind !    Buy  a  blessing 
from  the  blind ! 


(MANSUR  annoyed  at  the  BLIND  MAN'S  fum- 
bling, strikes  him  down  and  passes  on.  The 
BLIND  MAN  gets  up  again,  helped  by  two  of 
the  courtesans.  ZAYD  gives  him  a  coin  or 
two,  and  he  goes  on  his  way.)  f^ 

ZAYD   (to  AMRU).     Didst  mark   his   rage  ?    He,  the 

L  favourite  of  yesterday,  to-day  must  walk  second  to 
the  grammarian.  The  splitter  of  lives  bow  to  the 
splitter  of  syllables.  Ha !  Ha !  XT\ 

(HAJJ  appears  in   the  centre  archway.     He  is  i 
still  in  rags.     He  comes  down  to  ZAYD.) 

ZAYD.      (Putting   him   off  as    he   would   a  beggar.) 
Heaven  will  provide,  O  brother. 

(HAJJ  crosses  to  AMRU.) 

AMRU.     (In  the    same    tone    as   ZAYD.)     Allah   will 

provide. 

HAJJ.     Nay,  I  am  no  beggar. 
.  ZAYD  AND  AMRU.     What  art  thou  then? 

- 


KISMET  37 

HAJJ.  I  am  a  religious  mendicant.  My  vow  of 
poverty  has  been  accomplished  in  the  hour.  I  am 
on  my  way  to  the  hammam  to  re-enter  daily  life. 

ZAYD.  O  father  of  rags,  thou  art  strangely  like  to 
a  beggar  before  the  Carpenter's  Mosque. 

HAJJ.  So  I  have  been  told.  The  sooner  therefore  I 
strip  me  of  his  likeness,  the  better  for  both  of  us. 
What  hast  thou  in  the  manner  of  cloaks  and  shirts 
and  turband-cloths  ?  (Jiff  dinks  the  purse  ominously?)  ^^ 

(ZAYD  and  AMRU  hurry  forward,  each  bringmgli    /^*f 
cushion  for  HAJJ  to  sit  on.    '  ^jup**$recuL  a  X 
big  square  of  stuff  before  him  on  which  mey 
display  their  gciods.) 

(HAJJ  sits  down  with  great  satisfaction.) 

ZAYD.     All  colours,  O  my  master,  b  fj^^di****** 

AMRU.     All  kinds,  O  my  master. 
HAJJ.     (  With  a  delighted  smile,  pleased  at  the  epithet.) 
Master  !     (He  chinks  his  purse.) 


HJJJ     'Tinjunnghtl    A    mnmnrrl    Sliuii   me    llij 

wases.  ^j£ 

AMRU.    ThouTt  see  mine  too,  O  my  lord  ? 
HAJJ.     (Turning  to  AMRU,  as  above.}     Lord!  —  Thine 

too,  —  O  my  —  my  tailor.     (Pointing  to  some  veils  in 

AMRU'S  hands.)     What's  this  ? 
ZAYD.     (Spreading  out  a  cloak  eagerly.)     Thy  cloak,  O 

my  master. 
HAJJ.     (To  ZAYD  putting  him  off.)    A  moment.     (To 

AMRU.)     Face  veils  ? 

AMRU.     (Spreading  out  a  veil.)    Aftar  the'faahioiT'ef 
Woven  air  ! 


HAJJ.     (Taking  up  the  veil)    A  veil!    Hast    thou 

anklets  ? 
AMRU.     Here  are  jewels  none  hath  set  eyes  on  in 

Baghdad.     (He  opens  a  little  casket.) 
ZAYD.     (Jealously,  calling  across.)     O  my  lord, 


38 


KISMET 


AMRU.     (To  ZAYD,  annoyed^ 
HAJJ.     (Taking  up 
AMRU.    Seven 
HAJJ.    Thou  i 

cloak 

AMRU.     (Eagerly-)    How  much 
HAJJ.  jjfgnoring  AMRU.) 


ble  not  my  master. 
How  much  ? 

to  ZAYD.)    Thy 


t  thou  oflfer  ? 

>  is   workman- 


— — HAJJ.    (To  ZAYD.) 
— - ZAYD.    'TisJ. 

m 


Six  dinars 
Who's  the  designer  of  this  ? 


RU.     (  Quickly  to  HAJJ,  waving  the 
fix. 

(turtiing  to  AMRU.) 
paid. 

AMRU\   The  anklets  alone 
ZAYD.  V7V  HAJJ.)    Thou'lt 
HAJJ.     NOW  much  ? 
ZAYD.    Twenty-five  din 
HAJJ.    Twenty-five  1 


a  half! 
s  and  I  lose. 


By  the  life  of  my 
u  wrappest  them  up  in  one  of  thy 
y  yielding.     (He  takes  his  veils 


turns  abruptly  to  AMRU.) 
Three  dinars. 
ZAYD.    Twent 
AMRU.     Four 
father,  I  swe 
HAJJ.    Four^t 
kerchiefs^ 
AMRU.    jJifis  beyond 
awqtf.) 

Z    (Turning  to  ZAYD\^     Hast  thou  veils  ?    (AMRU 
HAJJ  eagerly.) 
,     The  best  in  Baghdad.     Thou'lt   have   the 
TteakJ 
HAJJ.     I'll  see  others  first.     Put  it  there.     (He  points 

to  the  kerchief  spread  out  before  him.)    Thy  veils  1 
AMRU.    Hold  I  Thou  shalt  have  thy  veil  and  kerchief. 

But  I  swear 

HAJJ.   (Turning  to  AMRU.)    Swear  not !    (Counts  out 
the  money.)    Pirn  1    Thou  hast  begun  the  day  too 


KISMET  39 


well.  What  *iu*f  is  this  ?  (He  takes  if  up.)  And 
yon  trousers  and  girdle  ?  (Pointing  to  some  trousers 
and  a  girdle  ZAYD'S  apprentice  is  holding  up.) 

(The  GUIDE  NASIR  enters  at  the  back,  sees  HAJJ 
and  watches  him  unobserved,  with  cat-like 
glances,  leaning  against  ZAYD'S  shop.J  ZAYD 
hands  HAJJ  the  trousers  and  girdle.) 

AMRU.  (Shouting).   First  see  this  girdle  of  mine. 
HAJJ.     Now  which  of  ye  twain  hath  a  turband-cloth 

to  my  heart  ? 

ZAYD.  (Unrolling one).     O  master,  'tis  I.. 
AMRU.  ( Unrolling  another.)     O  master,  'tis  me. 
ZAYD.    I ! 

AMRU.     Me !  /t/ 

HAJJ.     The  master  asked  both.     (Pointing  to  AMRU'S 

cloth,  squinting  at  ZAYD  out  of  the  corner  of  his  eye.)   ^ 

His  cloth  far  excelleth  thine. 
ZAYD.      (Furious.)      His  cloth  excel  mine?     Yon 

meagre  tracery  crawling  along  the  edge  as  a  dying 

dog  to  a  puddle, — that  excel  my  glorious  branching 

and  bowing  of  pomegranates  ? 
AMRU.     Dying  dog,  indeed  1     Dying  dog  thyself. 
ZAYD.     By  Allah,  hold  thy  peace,  O  brother. 
HAJJ.     (To  ZAYD  inciting tym.)     How?    Let  him  call 

thee  dog?  £  **M*^{  ' 
^  ZAYD.    (Springing  up.)     Called  he  me  dog?     Didst 

thou  call  me  dog,  O  dog  ? 
HL  AMRU.     (Conciliating  him,  still  on  his  knees?)    Enough, 

O  Zayd.     Words  poison. 
HAJJ.     (To  KMKU,  in  a  whisper.)     What?     Kneel  to 

a  slave,  dost  thou  ?  >^  ^ 

AMRU.     Yehh !     Thou  art  right.     (Rising  and  facing 

ZAYD.)    Yes,  I — I  call  thee  dog. 
ZAYD.     Thou  shall   eat  thy  words.     (He  crosses  to 
L.      AMRU.) 

AMRU.     And  thou  thy  pomegranates.     (They  fall  to 

blows?) 


40  KISMET 

J 

(HAJJ  quickly  gathers  the  clothes  he  picked  0utt 
f      wraps  the  large  cltfh  about  them  and  hurries 
°ff  by  the  arch*  teft>   NASIR  has  -watched  HAJJ 
and  follows  him  off.    THE  MERCHANTS  AND 
APPRENTICES  hurry  out  of  the  shops.) 

VARIOU?  MEX.  Ho,  Masters  !  Ho,  masters !  Help  ! 
They're  fighting  !  They'll  have  their  swords  out. 
Ho,  Moslems  !  Ho  Captain  !  Help ! 

(Several  of  the  shopmen  and  passers-by  crowd 
round,  chattering  and  screaming,  trying  to 
separate  the  two  men.  Different  ones  shout : 
"  O  AMRU  !  O  Brothers  !  Where's  the 
Syndic  ?  O  ZAYD  !  For  the  love  of  Allah  ! 
Are  ye  not  sons  of  Islam  both  ?  "  etc.} 

(The  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  WATCH  hurries  in  by  the 
centre  arch.  The  two  men  are  separated  by 
him.) 

CAPTAIN.  O  Zayd  !  O  Amru  !  Shame  upon  ye  ! 
How  now  ?  Are  ye  donkey-boys  ? 

AMRU.  O  Captain  !  Heaven  knoweth  we  were  ever 
the  best  of  friends. 

ZAYD.     Ever  till  this  hour. 

CAPTAIN.     Who  began  it  ? 

ZAYD.  'Twas  my  lord  here  who  said — (He  points 
to  HAJJ'S  empty  cushion  ;  stops  and  stares  amazed} 
Where  is  my  lord?  (He  looks  about  bewildered.) 
Yehh  !  Gone  !  Gone  and  the  clothes  with  hiiruy\ 

AMRU.     O,  the  bazaar  devil !   'Twas  he  that  set  us  on. 

ZAYD.     After  him.     Which  way  went  he  ?       ft/ 

A  MAN.     This  way.     (He points  to  the  arch  itft} 

(The  crowd,  headed  by  ZAYD,  starts  to  run  off  to  the  left.) 

ANOTHER  MAN.  (Pointing  tip  to  the  centre  arch.} 
This  way ! 

(Thf  crowd  veers  and  starts  off  to  the  back} 


KISMET  41 

STILL  ANOTHER  MAN.     (Pointing  to  the  right.)     This 
way  !     (They  all  swing  to  the  right.) 

(NASIR  re-enters  from  the  left  arch  eagerly!) 

NASIR.    (At  the  top  of  his  voice.)     No,  that  way.    I 
know  the  dog  well.     'Tis  Hajj — the  beggar ! 

(General  hubbub  as   ALL  run  off  to  the  left) 
shouting  and  gesticulating.) 

SWEETMEAT-SELLER.      (Rising  and  putting  his  f 

.tray  of  siffee\pn  his  head  goes  slowly  down  the  street,  ^. 

T  ring.)    HM~  Ho  !  Swee— ts  Is  .jfir 

1          ^4   V 

[CURTAIN] 


t 

SCENE  III.     The  Courtyard  of  a  poor  House. 


In  the  right  wall  a  large  double  door  leads  out  to  the 
street.  An  arch,  which  supports  the  upper  part  of 
the  house,  runs  parallel  to  the  wall  at  the  right, 
thus  screening  the  Mirt  from  the  street.  At  the 
back,  a  door  leads  into  the  inner  house.  Two 
cages  with  a  bird  in  each,  are  hanging  on  the  wall 
right.  The  left  side  of  the  court  is  taken  ^^p  by  a 
wall  about  seven  feet  high,  a  niche  in  its  centre 
containing  a  well  with  ropes,  buckets  and  a  large  __ 
jar  or  two.  Over  the  wall  can  be  seen  some 
cypresses  of  a  garden.  In  the  shadow  of  this  .....  -.. 
wall,  a  rose  tree  grows  in  a  rim  of  masonry.  An 
awning  is  stretched  across  the  Court.  A  tom- 
tom stands  in  one  corner. 

The  full  morning  sun  over  everything. 

MARSINAH,  a  beautiful  girl  of  fourteen  summers 
(which  would  correspond  to  a  girl  of  eighteen  in  the 
west)  is  seated  on  some  rough  matting,  in  the 


A 


42  KISMET 

centre  of  the  court.  She  is  clad  in  the  simplest 
fashion,  like  the  poorest  Arabian  women.  She  is 
busy  with  some  needlework  on  a  large  embroidery 
frame,  which  rests  on  four  legs  like  a  low  table. 

^ 

Near  her,  idly  fanning  away  the  flies,  sits  NARJIS,  a 
stout,  old  Duenna,  with  a  full-blown  face.  About 
them  on  the  matting  lie  strands  of  different  coloured 
wools, 

fl/      MARSINAH.     (Looking  up  to  the  garden  wall.)    The 

sun  grows  hot. 
NARJIS.     How's  thy  border?    Will  it  be  done  by 

noon-prayer  ?    I  promised  it  the  merchant. 
MARSINAH.     (Impatiently  sighing.)     I  hear,  O  Narjis, 

I  hear.     Hast  thou  any  yellow  wool  ? 
NARJIS.     (Turnl.away  from  Marsinah  to  look  for  it.) 

Yellow?    Yellow?    Did  I   not  give   it  thee   erst- 
while? 
MARSINAH.     (Quickly  takes  the  yellow  wool  and  hides 

it  under  the  folds  of  her  dress.)    'Twas   red   thou 

gavest  me. 
NARJIS.     By  the  life  of  thy  youth,  O  Marsinah,  'twas 

yellow.     (She  rises  and  searches.)^ 
MARSINAH.     Look  thyself.    Thou  seest  I  lack  it  to 

finish  the  pattern. 
NARJIS.   Alas!    (Sighs.)   What's  to  be  done ?   What's 

to  be  done  ? 


(iSyfe  j*Vj  ticspondenlty  dn  the  rtmof  the  well. ) 

MARSINAH.  Run  to  the  wool  market,  O  good 
Narjis. 

NARJIS.     All  the  way  to  the  wool  market  ? 

MARSINAH.  'Tis  none  so  far  for  one  so  sprightly  as 
thou,  O  sweet  Narjis.  Thou  didst  promise  it  the 
merchant — remember ! 

NARJIS.  I  could  have  laid  an  oath  with  the  All- 
seeing  there  was  yet  another  strand  of  yellow.  x '  K 

' 


KISMET  43 

MARSINAH.    (Tucking away  a  tell-tale  thread!)   Couldst 

thou  in  sooth  ? 

>Y    NARJIS.    Well-a-day !    There's  nought  for  me  but  to 
go.     We  must  finish  the  work  or  the  money's  lost. 

(She  crosses  to  the  large  double  door  and  takes 
down  a  huge  iron  door  key,  which  hangs  on 
the  wall  beside  the  door!) 

And  O  Marsinah  !  No  looking  out  of  windows  or 
peeping  over  walls. 

MARSINAH.  By  Lady  Fatimah's  life  of  light  1  What 
dost  thou  suppose  ? 

NARJIS.  Think  of  thy  father.  Thou  knowest  how 
he  fears  for  thy  safety.  Was  not  his  first  wife 
stolen?  His  son  slaughtered?  Art  thou  not  the 
last  of  his  race  ?  Is  not  thine  own  mother  in  the 
tomb  of  eternity  ?  I  tell  thee,  should  one  folly  on 
thy  part  reach  thy  father's  ears,  'twere  the  undoing 
of  us  both. 

MARSINAH.     Fear  nought,  O  dear  Narjis.  T*^/ 

(NARJIS  has  let  herself  out  and  locked  the  door 
outside!) 

(MARSINAH  rises,  and  listens  at  the  door.  Then  she 
hurries  to  the  rim  of  the  masonry  by  the 
gets  up  on  it  and  peers  over  the  wall.      With 
a  little  cry  of  delight  she  exclaims  "  Waiting  / 
Waiting/"     Then  claps  her  left  palm  with 
her  right  hand  twice.     She  listens, — then  claps 
again.     Some  one  answers  the  signal  in  the 
same  manner.     She  draws  her  "veil  across  fyer    . 
face  instinctively  and  stands  expectant.)    ^/  JH  1^1.^111 

(A  youth  appears  over  the  masonry.  In  a 
moment  he  is  down  and  in  her  arms.  By 
his  mole  he  is  seen  to  be  the  young  CALIPH 
ABDALLAH, — but  he  is  now  dressed  in  the 
simple  clothes  of  an  artisan.) 


44  KISMET 

V  '  CALIPH.     O  my  beloved  !    At  last ! 
/v  MARSINAH.     Dost  thou  still  love  me,  O  my  master. 
CALIPH.     Still  ? 

(He  draws  away  her  veil  and  kisses  her  between  the  eyes., 

All   my   soul   lieth  between   thine   eyes!    All  my 

longing  on  thine  untouched  lips.     Still  love  thee  ? 
MARSINAH.     How  can  man  love  maid  who  unveileth 

her  face  as  I  have  to  thee?|t«kj4^A- 
H  CALIPH.     How  can  man  not  love  ? 

MARSINAH.     (Veiling  herself  again.)     I  am  ashamed 
,    at  my  shamelessness.  >*  * 

CALIPH.     Sooner  be  thou  ashamed  of  mine.     'Twas 

I  that  climbed  the  wall,  broke  in  on  thee  to  tear 

the  cloud  from  the  new  moon. 

(He  raises  the  veil  from  her  face.) 

MARSINAH.  I  swear  were  to-day  three  days  agone, 
and  thou  imploring  me  now,  by  thine  eyes,  I'd  not 
betray  my  secrecy  again. 

CALIPH.     What !    Is  thy  love  grown  faint  so  soon  ? 

MARSINAH.  Allah  help  me,  strong  so  soon.  'II  am 
become  a  thousand  times  more  watchful/  more 
jealous  of  myself,  and  all  because  of  thee/  Alas  ! 
How  must  honour  like  thine  judge  of  fr/ilty  like 
mine?  *w~*U<f  L£ 

CALIPH  (passionately)*  Mine  no'nour  judges  as  it 
judged  the  first  moment  of  seeing  thee  :  mat  thou  art 
my  love,  that  I  hold  thy  little  hands  in  mine,  and 
that  thou  shall  be  my  wife — none  oth/r  before  thee. 

(Drawing  her  towards  hiji) 

MARSINAH.     (Sinking  at  his  feet)     p  my  loved 
This  is  a  ^eam  of  thine.     Thintaof  thy 
TOJat  will  theV  say  ?    What  wilt'thdto  tell  th 

CALIPH^    (He  sHs  by  her**  the  grbynd) 
That  rsjopked  out  from  mVfather'sVavilio 
blessed  evening  ami  saw  thee  Deeding  thyJittle 


KISMET 

at  yon  window.     That  I  gazed  on 
long — long.     What  more  neec 
to  kiss  her  wrists.} 

MARSINAH.      ( Withdrp 

wrists  !     Hathm^Tace  no  say 

CALIPH.  ThjK^ace !  The  Forgiver  forgive  thee. 
Since  LMeheld  its  light,  my  nights  are  sleepless  ;  my 
dajiB^Durning  sands.  This  stolen  moment  alone  my 
Srade,  thy  hair  my  breeze,  thy  voice  my  fountain. 

MARSINAH.     (Drawing-  away.j     O   my  love,   leave 
me;   forget  me  utterly.      Thy   mother   will  never 
choose  me  thy  bride.      Is  thy  father  not  far,  far 
above  my  father  ?     Did'st  thou  not  say  he  was  the 
"Caliph's  gardener  ? 

CALIPH^  Is  the  Caliph's  gardener  such  a  mighty 
man? 

MARSINAH.     Narjis  says  he  is. 

CALIPH.     (Secretly  annoyed.}    Narjis — the  old  woman  ? 

MARSINAH.  Yea,  and  she  says  more.  I  asked  her 
in  a  light  way — O  very  lightly — had  she  e'er  heard 
spoken  of  the  gardener's  son.  And  she — the  fool — 
she  swears  he  never  had  a  son ;  that  his  only  wife 
is  dead  these  many  years;  that  the  garden  next 
door  hath  been  leased  by  a  grammarian,  the  new 
Caliph's  tutor;  that  once  even  the  Caliph  himself 
came  to  walk  there  in  the  cool  of  the  day. 

CALIPH.  (Curtly?)  Narjis  is  an  old  gossip.  She 
knows  not  what  she  chatters.  

MARSINAH.  So  I  told  her.^^Bul  "sill!  Mild"" ttoi 
™ith  *tiy  Y^rki  9  ^ni1  rfQ"0V|tffr  "f  ig»»*ance." 

Tliuu  I  Lilian  LU  lUUgh,  thinking  I  If  ll t  unrl  fluC 

out  a  line  of  a  song,  till  her  for 
rag«*and  she  beat  me. 

CALIPH.     (Furiously.}     She  beat  thee? 

MARSINAH.     O  'tis  naught.     She  does  so  often. 

CALIPH.     The  sister  of  Satan  ! 

MARSINAH.  What  would'st  thou!  She's  not  my 
mother. 


46  KISMET 

CALIPH.  (Tenderly.)  O  my  Marsinah!  Has  this 
been  thy  life  ?  LMhy  mnttifr 

MARSINAH.  Three  years  'tis  now  sinceAhe  entered 
into  the  mercy  of  Allah !  Alas !  Xlhose  were 
different  days.  What  I  did  for  myynother  I  did  in 
delight.  What  I  learnt  from  hejf  I  learnt  with  a 
dancing  heart.  All  her  songs,  Jne  plucking  of  the 
lute  she  taught  me — as  'twejp  so  much  laughter. 
In  her  hour,  ere  my  father  tack  her  to  wife,  she  had 
been  the  slave  of  a  rich  mflfchant.  The  cunningest 
teachers  in  Baghdad  hjra  taught  her.  When  the 
merchant  gave  her  h^ freedom,  she  was  besought 
to  sing  at  all  the  rare^ feasts.  Then  Allah  took  her 
voice  and  evil  nighJB  fell  upon  her.  Thus  my  father 
found  her,  outcaJi  and  starving.  Such  was  my 
mother. 

short  silence.) 

CALIPH.  Thoydid'st  not  tell  me  that  thou  could'st 
play,  that  tbrou  could'st  sing  !  What  fresh  perfection 
do  I  find^fi  thee  every  moment ! 

'Tis  all  my  mother  in  me. 
CALIPH.  X'Tis  all  thyself  in  thee.    Blessed  be  He  that 
Ted  thee  in  thy  splendour  of  beauty.     Thy 
face^is   fairer    than   health;    thine    eyes    are   the 
of  a   gazelle;   thy   lips   a  cluster  of  coral; 
a  silver  column  is  thy  nHfe :  and  thy  breasts, 
(Sgtt»afcfifcJiy£fiJ4jjiai3^r 0,  my  beloved,  when 
will  come  the  hour  that  I  shall  hold  thee  close  to  my 
heart,  while  the  night  hangeth  her  silver  lamp  over 
our  silence. 

MARSINAH.  (Tn  a  whisper)  When  Allah  willeth — 
and  Allah  will  it  soon. 

(Their  lips  meet  in  a  kiss.)  f 

CALIPH.     (Rises -to  MrKttM  wii'fi.  Muiiivn^*****.)     It 

shall  be  this  night. 
MARSINAH.     O,  sweet  my  lord,   I  have  told  thee 

before,  it  cannot  be.     Not  at  night.     Narjis  is  ever 


KISMET  47 

here,  and  ofttimes  my  father.     My  only  freedom  is 

a  morn  like  to-day's. 
CALIPH.     (Drawing  close  to  her.)     Thou  shalt  have 

other  freedom  undreamt  of  by  thee. 
MARSINAH.    What  wilt  thou  do  ? 
CALIPH.     Can'st  thou  trust  me  ? 
MARSINAH.     With  all  my  soul,  an  thou  put  not  thy 

life  in  danger. 

CALIPH.     Dost  thou  love  me  so  ? 
MARSINAH.     (Hanging  far  head.)    .Sooner  would  I 

lose  thee  for  ever.      if*  /V^^vtx»-\ 
CALIPH.     (After  a  patise,  with  a  smile  she  does  not 

observe!)     Fear  naught. 

•»J  .-.T  AXTtvj^A-l^A-^—  &L~±j±L*Lfr   4-x^   tmjuao—  iU^et  3 

eek,}    Thotf  k-  se®-U,When  the 


evening  prayer  hath  locked  the  door  of  the  day, 
then  will  I  come  to  open  the  eyes  of  thy  heart. 

This  joy  must  yield  to  deeper  joy  its  power  ; 
As  bud  still  rends  its  veil,  to  blush  as  flower. 

MAKSINAH.     ( 


Ah  me  !     How  oft  the  foolish  petal': 
Is  scattered  to  the  skies  by  fatal  shower. 

CALIPH".  (Turning  surprised— joyously!)  Yehh ! 
Can' sV-eap  verses  too?  By  Allah!  What  is  this 
Wonder  of  wonders,  that  the  Giver  of  all  things 


MARSH*  AH.     (Rises,  interrupting  him.)     Awah  1 


MARSINAH.     !*•«.     Fly,  O  my  beloved. 

CALIPH.     (Rises!)     How  can  I  leave  my  soul  behind 

and  not  die  ?     (He  goes  up  to  the  rim  of  the  well.) 
MARSINAH.     Go,  I  implore  thee  !     By  all  that's  holy ! 

Here  !     (She  plucks  a  rose  from  the  bush,  kisses  it, 
and  hands  it  to  him.)     Go  ! 

(The  CALIPH  presses  the  rose  to  his  lips,  then 
slips  it  into  his  breast  and  climbs  over  the  wall!) 


48  KISMET 

CALIPH.     (From  the  top  of  the  wall?)     After  set  of 

sun  !     (He  disappears  over  the  wall?) 
NARJIS.     (Outside?)     Marsinah !     Majsinah ! 

(MARSINAH  hurries  to  her  work,  sits  and  stitches 
furiously?) 

^V,  NARJIS.  (entering  the  courtyard).     A  gift  of  good  news, 
O  my  roe.     Thy  father  is  coming. 

MARSINAH.     My  father  ?     Never  yet  came  he  home 
during  the  day. 

NARJIS.  Never  yet.  But  to-day  he  cometh.  I  saw 
him  leaving  the  hammam-bath,  unlike  himself — in 
robes  of  splendour,  his  locks  combed,  his  beard 
trimmed,  and  (imitating  him)  striding  along  as 
proud  and  calm  as  a  camel !  I  hasted  ahead 
through  the  alleys.  Had  he  found  thee  alone — "W 
(There  is  a  knock  on  the  door?)  By  the  Prophet! 
None  too  soon.  ;  (Calling  out.)  I  come  !  I  come  ! 
(Goes  to  the  door  and  calls  through  it.)  Who  art 
thou?  What  seekest  thou?  (S/ie  winks  at  MAR- 
SINAH and  feigns  surprise.)  Allah  !  'tis  my  master. 
O  Marsinah  !  Thy  father,  as  I  am  awake  !  (She 

unlocks  the  door.)  f 

>  • 

(MARSINAH  Has  risen ;  drawing  her  veil  about 
the  back  of  her  head?) 

(HAJJ  enters  as  described,  wearing  all  his  stolen 
robes,  his  beard  neatly  trimmed,  his  whole 
being  refreshed  by  the  bath.  His  manner  is 
far  more  self-assured.  He  carries  his 
little  bundle  of  presents  for  his  daughter, 
which  he  flings  to  the  ground.) 

MARSINAH.  Salam,  O  my  father.  *•  I* 
NARJIS.  Salam,  O  my  master,  v^  <, 
HAJJ.  Salam. 

(,fi"  jfV;  TTufJ  i' 1 1' Til  in  <rtr  firm  n I  j""" 


KISMET  49 

I  have  lain  in  the  hammam  all  morninj 

MARS\NAH.  May  thy  bath  profit  thee,  O  vyy  father. 
WhatSWessed  coming  is  thine  ? 

HAJJ.  \hou  mayst  indeed  call  it  ble/sed.  For 
verily  th\  Dispeller  of  woe  hath  turnedrthe  murk  of 
my  night  nato  a  day  of  light  and  dehVnt.  What  say 
ye  to  this.  \He  takes  out  his  pursejj  Gold !  Gold ! 
Gold  !  WhaV  a  sound  it  is  !  It  flm'nks  straight  into 
the  blood  and  sets  the  heart  a-baating,  so  the  temples 
throb  and  reason  flies  from  Jne  head.  Dost  thou 
mark  it,  O  Marsn^ah.  O  Nftrjis,  dost  thou  ? 

MARSINAH.     (Clapptyg hermnds.)    Yehh ! 

NARJIS.     (Suspid(ws.j\ytihe,nce  hadst  thou  this  ? 

HAJJ.  Whence  ?  (&£  brow  cloitds?)  Whence  ? 
From  a  fool  in  his  foflyV  An  accursed  for  whom  it 
shall  weave  the  rorjf  round  his  neck.  But  that's  for 
later.  (Chinking jnhe  purs\^  This  for  now.  (He 
slips  the  purse  in/his  breast.)  T&&  !  Ha  !  Ha !  O  eyes 
of  me !  Ye  -^should  have  \eheld  them  in  the 
hammam — tjie  bath-keeper  and\is  slaveboys.  How 
they  bowed  before  me — one  and  all.  "  O  my 
master "liere,  and  "O  my  loro^  there.  And 
such  rirj&ngs,  and  rubbings,  and  clajtoings,  till  my 
limbs  j?ang  aloud  with  smoothness  !  Then  they  laid 
me  a/town  on  silken  sheets,  the  while  censers  fumed 
me  sweetly  from  head  to  heel.  And  the  bath- 
keeper  knelt  at  my  feet,  and  sung  to  the  tom-tom  a 
song.  (He  sings,  imitating  the  playing  of  a  tom-tom 
with  his  hands.) 

A  bowl  of  wine  !     Two  bowls  of  wine  ! 
And  three  more  bowls  and  that  makes  nine ! 
Te  drawj  out  the  ti 


L/     MARSINAH.     (Clapping  her  hands  gleefully  and  rising 

to  her  knees.)     O   my   father!     Thou  art  magni 

ficent ! 

HAJJ.     (Delighted.)    ^Magnificent — am  I  ? 


50 

MARSINAH.     Yea !   JZven  as  a  prince  in  one  of  the 

tales  thou  tellest 
HAJJ.     A  Prince  1     (He  strokes  his  mousfachios.)    A 

King? 
MARSINAH.     A  King,  in  truth,  a  King  I    Is  he  not,  O 

Narjis  ? 

NARJIS.     (Ironically)     A  King,  in  very  sooth. 
MARSINAH.     Never  beheld  I  thee  thus.     Never  till 

this  hour.     White  as  milk  is  this  day  of  mine. 
HAJJ.     It  shall  be  whiter  still,  O  my  dainty.     Give 

me  the  bundle,  O  Narjis.     Thou  shalt  bless  the  day 

indeed,  O   my   rose.     ( Opening  the  bundle)    Ah ! 

Now  thine  eyes  glisten.     Now  ! 
MARSINAH.     Thou  didst  remember  me  ? 
HAJJ.     Remember  thee  ?    What  doth  thy  soul  most 

desire  in  this  world  ?     Speak.  C'^o^-**^ 
MARSINAH.      Most?     (She  glances  unconsciously  up 

over  the  garden  wall^  but  looks  down  again  quickly) 
HAJJ.     Ah,  now  thou  blushest.     What  is  it  ? 
MARSINAH.     (Confused)     I — know — not.  l,.**^ 
HAJJ.     (Imitating).     "  I  know  not."     O  Narjis,  was 

ever  maid  such  maid.     She  knows  not.     By  Allah, 

thou  hast  guarded  her   well.      She  is  as  simple 

as  the  hour  she  was  born.     "  I  know  not."     (He 

fondles  MarsinaKs  cheek) 
MARSINAH.      (Hanging  her  head).    What  should   I 

know? 

(HAJJ   and  NARJIS  look  at  each  other  smiling 
knowingly?) 

HAJJ.  Thou  shouldest  know  that  thy  father  loves 
thee  1  (He  kisses  her  on  both  eyes.)  And  that  he  has 
brought  thee  these.  (He  produces  the  anklets  from 
the  bundle.)  \******  '  v/w<£  (•' 

MARSINAH.  Anklets  !  \She  flings  off  her  slippers 
laughing  gleefully  and  puts  on  the  anklets)  O  Narjis  ! 
O  Narjis  !  At  last !  Now  !  What  girl  in  our  street 
can  laugh  at  me  now  ?  (Rises  and  circles  about  the 


KISMET  51 


s 


two.)       Look,    O    Narjis,     look  ! 

MtibarnVah,  —  ez  —  any.  —  oL-th&n.      O    my    master, 

I  kiss  thy  feet.v  i,^hj  kneels  before  HAJJ  and  bows 

down.)  jkfiL  4**<*+A*  *- 

HAJJ.     (Laying  his  hand  on  her  head.)      Thou  art 

content  ? 

MARSINAH.     (Blissfully)     Content?     Content? 
HAJJ.     Then  what  sayst  thou  to  a  veil  ?     (He  unfolds 

the  veil.) 
MARSINAH.     (Springs  up,  then   bashfully  —  overcome.} 

For  me  —  too  ?     (HAJJ  hands  it  to  her  smilingly) 

(In  rapture,  holding  it  up  ;  unconsciously  looking  up 

to  the  garden  wall)      Oh  !  would  I  had  had  it  this 

morn  ! 

HAJJ.     This  morn  !    What  dost  thou  mean  ? 
MARSINAH.     (Realising  her  self-betrayal)     I  mean  —  I 

know  not.      My  heart  is  so  happy.      La  Yayha"  ! 

Do  I  fill  thine  eyes,  O  my  father  ?     (She  drapes  the 

veil  about  her) 
HAJJ.      (Smiling  proudly)      Fill   mine   eyes  !     Go  ! 

Fetch  thy  lute  !     We  will  have  music.     This  day 

shall  be  a  day  of  rejoicing. 
MARSINAH.     (Going)  (.  I  hear  and  I   obey.     (She 

hurries  off  across  the  courtyard  into  the  house)    \~ 
HAJJ.     (Looking  after  her)  \  By  Allah  !     How  she 

glides  swimmingly  as  she  wWe  a  lily  floating  down 

the  Tigris.    Blessed  indeed  is  he  that  taketh  her 

to  wife. 

NARJIS.     Aye,  and  she's  ripe  to  wed,  too. 
HAJJ.     Few-teen!      The    pick  of  years!      I  must 

seek  her  a  husband. 
NARJIS.     (Huddles  up  to  him.)    What  sayst   thou  to 

the  basket-weaver's  son  at  tljie  corner  ? 
HAJJ.     The    basket-weaver's    son  ?  *   O    thou    hag  ! 

(Slaps  her  cheek  with  the  back  of  his  hand)     Why 

not    a    bean-seller?     (SlaJ^rOr    a    camel-boy? 

(Slap)    Yea,  or  best  arid  rarest,  some  blear-eyed 

mangy  beggar  ?     (Slap) 

E   2 


M 


52  KISMET    I        H 

\J(J^ 

(MARSINAH  appears  with  a  lute.) 

HAJJ.     (To  NARJIS.)     Behold  her  now  !     I  swear  the 
very  movement  of  her  limbs  maketh  melody. 
ARSINAH.     What  shall  I  sing  thee,  O  my  father? 
(She  stands  tuning  her  instrument!) 

HAJJ.     How  many  modes  canst  thou  play  in? 

MARSINAH.     One-and-twenty. 

HAJJ.  One-and-twenty.  (To  NARJIS.)  Are  one-and- 
twenty  modes  for  the  basket-weaver's  son?  (He 
slaps  NARJIS  again.  To  MARSINAH.)  And  sing 
how  many  ? 

MARSINAH.     The  like  number. 

HAJJ.  And  dance  ?  How  many  steps  did  thy  mother 
teach  thee  ? 

MARSINAH.     Far  beyond  counting. 

HAJJ.  (To  NARJIS.)  Thouhearest!  Are  they,  the 
countless,  for  the  basket-weaver's  son?  (A  final 
slap.)  I  tell  thee,  Marsinah  is  rare  as  a  houri  in 
Paradise.  Wouldst  thou  know  what  secret  the 
future  hideth  for  Marsinah  ? 

NARJIS.  (Rubbing  her  poor  cheek.)  What  secret,  O 
master?  tf^AJl  n-y  V-4»- 

HAJJ.     Sit  thee  down  here,  0  my  flower.     And  here 
thou,  O  my  cactus.     Mark  me  close,  ye  bojh./  /-  ) 
(MARSINAH  sits  on  the  ground  by  HAJJ.)  *  1 

HAJJ.  (Drawing  the  purse  from  his  breast.)  **  This 
money  in  my  bosom  will  I  take  and  buy  merchandise 
withal.  (Tossing  the  purse  from  hand  to  hand  ;  his 
-voice  in  lyrical  exaltation).  And  I  will  trade  and  sell  ; 
and  buy  and  trade  ;  till  it  is  doubled  and  trebled  a 
hundred  times  hundredfold.  Then  shall  I  turn  from 
toil  and  trouble,  to  clothe  my  Marsinah  in  a  1UJJU  (JT* 
}irnr1n  nnroMj  ijjJiJ]ifjiirf*«»ri""nf  a  queen  .on  her 
wp  jewels  of  shine  and^Jsheen, 
er  each  "ear,—  heir  "amf^tfiere  ;  pn  her 
of  flash  and  fret  ; 

and  stuffed  within  a  priceless  piece  of  ambergris. 
MARSINAH.     (In  wonder.)     O  my  father  ! 


KISMET  53 

HAJJ.    And  the  name  of  thy  beauty  shall  be  blown 

abroad,  beyond  Arabia,  through  Sind,  into  China, 

even  as  far  as  the   islands  of  Wak.     And   suitors 

shall  ventuie  across  deserts  and  sea,  by  caravel  and 

camel,  and  fall  on  their  knee  in  suppliance  for  thee. 
MARSINAH.     Yehh ! 
HAJJ.     But  I — thy  sire,  (leaning  on  NARJIS  lazily  as 

thoiigh  she  were  a  feather  bed.} — shall  lie  back  on 

pillows   of  c.itrich  plumes,  propping  mine  elbow 

thus,  nor  turning  to  right  nor  to  left.     And  there 

shall  be  wail;;igs  and  gnashings  of  teeth  amongst 

thy  lovers;  tlu  while  thou,  behind  many  lintels,  in 

a  court   of  marble  with   a  roof  of  molten   gold, 

dancest  merrily,  airily,   to  the   sound  of  smitten 

MARSINAH.  (Laughingjoyfiiflyand  clapping  her  hands.) 

Ya  ha  !  Ya  ha  ! 
HAJJ,.  (Trimnghantly.)    HajJ3>!   (Eagerly.)    Dance 

now,  &~  JavylHjRuB^y^flpw  1     O   Narjis,   pluck   a 

tune  urifh  thy  tnltw"      (Hands  her  the  lute.)     Up, 

O   Marsinah,  up  !     My  tom-tom,  O  Narjis  1     My 

tom-tom ! 

(MARSINAH  springs  up.  She  begins  to  dance 
slowly,  then  faster  and  faster.  NARJIS,  after 
handing  HAJJ  his  tom-tom,  plays  and  occasion- 
ally sings  as  well.) 

HAJJ.     (Beating  the  tom-tom,  shrilly}    Yehh  !     Allah  ! 
LaYayha"!    LaYayha"!    So  shalt  thou  dance  !    SoJ    ^ 
And  the  kings  of  the  earth  shall  send  their  sons  !  -  ». 

La  Yayha" !     By  thy  youth,  thou  art  as  a  branch 
swaying !     La  Yayha* !     But  I  shall  laugh  them  to       / 
scorn,   all   and   one — "  Ye   swine,"  shall   I   say — 

(MARSINAH  stops  ;  so  does  NARJIS.)    V^ 
HAJJ.     Nought.      Neighbours.      On!      (They  begin   ' 
again.) 


X  KISMET 

"Ye  swine — who  are  ye  to " 

{Another  knock.) 

(Outside?)     Open  in  the  name  of  justice. 
HAJJ.     (Instinctively   looks  at  his  garments?)      Wah  ! 
Go   indoors,   O   my  delight,  go  !     (He  throws  the 
bundle  to  MARSINAH.) 

(MARSINAH,  taking  the  bundle,  goes  into  the 
house  •wondering.) 

HAJJ.     (To    NARJIS,)      Open  1      Open !      Open ! 
(NARJIS  o^ens  the  house  door.) 

(HAJJ  sits  expectant,  tracing  figures  in  the  sand 
with  his  finger-tips) 

(The  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  WATCH  enters — be- 
hind him  come  ZAYD  and  AMRU  and  FOUR 
ARCHERS.  THE  ARCHERS  fling  epen  the  double 
doors  to  the  street  and  guard  them.  NASIR 

enters  as  well.) 
\  v* 

CAPTAIN.     Is  this  the  house  of  Hajj,  the  beggar  ? 

HAJJ.    What  would  ye  ? 
( '-    ZAYD.     I  knew  'twas  he  !    Seize  the  dog  I 
HAJJ.     Seize  me  ?     (He  rises  abruptly.) 
ZAYD.     Those  are  the  very  garments. 
CAPTAIN.      Thou    must    come    before    the    Wazir 

Mansur. 
HAJJ.     (Terrified  at   the  name)    Mansur?    I  paid 

in  part — I  meant  to  pay  in  fulL 
f$-"AMRU.     Thou  liest,  O  split  of  tongue. 
HAJJ.     Lie?    I?    (He  goes  for  AMRU.) 

(Two  ARCHERS  secure  HAJJ  between  them.) 
CAPTAIN.     No  words  !    Off  with  him. 

(THE  ARCHERS  march  HAJJ  to  the  door) 
NASIR.     (Darting  forward  and  grinning  into  HAJJ*S 

face)     Ha!   Ha! 
HAJJ.     (Stopping  as  he  sees  NASIR.)    Oh  1    Thou  1 


KISMET  55 

NASIR.     (Mockingly  imitating  HAJJ'S  voice.)     I   saw 

no  purse. 
HAJJ.     (Spitting   in    NASIR'S  face.)      Thou    filth  ! 

Thou  son  of  filth. 

(He  is  led  off,  the  other  men  following!)     /l-t*/* 
Ml^J^nVrjt^in^^ 


[CURTAIN] 


SCENE  IV.    A  Hall  in  the  Wazir  Afansur's  Mansion. 

The  room  is  a  large  oblong  one,  with  a  colonnade  running  **     *+^& 
along  the  back,  looking  out  on  a  colonnaded  courtyard*  '*+** 
beyond.    A  large  doubk  door  to  the  left  leads  to 
entrance  hall.     Opposite  it,  in  the  right  wall, 
niche  with  a  diwan,  raised  a  step  or  two.     The  tiles 
and  carvings  are  of  the  richest. 

MANSUR  is  seated  on  the  diwan,  before  him  a  chess- 

board. 
AFIFE  is  crouching  to  the  right  on  the  steps,  his  partner 

in  the  game. 

KAFUR  stands  behind  them  watching. 
MANSUR  is  in  a  siillen  humour,  his  mind  not  on  the 

game. 

AFIFE.     (Making  a  move,  in  a  high  squeaky  voice!) 

Move,  O  master. 
MANSUR.     (Moving  a  chess-man!)     Now  match  me 

this  move,  O  thou  bundle  of  misery. 
AFIFE.    Match  it?    (He  moves!)    Thy  turn,  O  my 

master. 

MANSUR.     (Moving  again!)    So  I 
AFIFE.     Check  ! 


56  KISMET 

MANSUR.    Check  ?    Now  cursed  be  Satan  the  Stoned ! 
What  Ifrit  is  at  thine  elbow?    This  is  the   third 
game  thou  dost  beat  me. 
AFIFE.     Thy  thoughts  wander,  O  my  Lord. 
MANSUR.     Dost  thou   wonder  they  wander,  o  thou 
misbegotten    lump    of   dough? — Wander?     They 
AjJkX  gallop,   they   fly !      Even    though   I   myself  must 

»     \      crawl  at  other  men's  heels  these  days. 
/  xlft^  KAFUR.     (To  MANSUR.)    There's  yet  one  more  move 

for  thee. 

MANSUR.     (Studying  the  board.)     One  more  ? 
KAFUR.     So  !     (He  sweeps  the  chessboard  clear  with  his 
sword). 

(The  dtor  opens  and  an  ATTENDANT  enters!) 

ATTENDANT.    A  Chamberlain  from  the  Caliph,  O  my 

lord. 
MANSUR.    Admit  him. 

(The  ATTENDANT  ushers  in  the  CHAMBERLAIN 
from  the  CALIPH  who  enters  with  a  sealed 
scroll.  He  comes  up  to  MANSUR  and  bows.) 

CHAMBERLAIN.    From  the  Commander  of  the  Faithful 
to  his  Wazir  Mansur.  j^J^ 

(KAFUR  turnrfaid  takes  the  letter  from  the  CHAM- 
BERLAIN and  hands  it  to  MANSUR.  MANSUR 
rises  and  takes  the  letter ',  touches  the  top  of  his 
head  with  it,  then  breaks  the  seals  and  scans 
the  contents.  His  lips  contract.  After  a 
moment's  pause  he  says  to  the  CHAMBERLAIN.) 

MANSUR.     Harkening  and  obedience  to  the  Prince 
of  True  Believers. 

(The  CHAMBERLAIN   bows  and  retires  as  he 

came.) 

-• 

MANSUR.     (Springing  up  with  great  rage!)      Hear! 
Hear  1    (Reading from  right  to  left)     "  In  the  name 


KISMET 


57 


of  Allah,  the  Compassionating  the  Compassionate. 
From  Abdallah,  Caliph  and  King  of  Mankind  to 
his  Wazir  of  Police.  But  after.  We  find  all  the 
moneys  of  our  various  departments  of  state,  com- 
plete and  in  account,  saving  those  under  thy  control. 
Report  thou  to  us  accordingly  at  our  diwan  this 
day.  Though  mine  uncle  the  King  be  dead, 
justice  and  order  have  not  died  with  him."  (He 
tears  the  letter  to  bits,  stufif-rtrips  i«tt^-Mt~m<»t<?i, 
ctou*4km*mi  tyfa  ilfam  u*/.*j>«.)  W^h  ! 


handiwork,   big-turban'd,  brinfjM    fjnn^rlfn   sow ! 
So  I'm  to  end   throiigh,^ff^Jt7.who   sat  in  hi 
seat,  hard  h^jjbn  nrrtr'ftTTnr  thrortST    By  all  devils 
round  hell,  I  swear  this  shall  never  be 
(He   strikes   at 

ATIFE  in  fas  rag*-)  » 

KAFUR.     What  wilt  thou  do,  O  my  lord  ?    jp 
[ANSUR.     I  would  I  had  him  between  my  feet  to 

the  tongue  from  his  teeth. 

AF\FE.     A  hundred   grammatical    tongues  will  not 
ig  back  one  danik  of  the   moneys   thou  hast 
squandered. 

MANSER.  Justice  and  order  !  (He  spits  out  a  piece 
oft\letter.)  Pah !  Show  me  the  Wazir  of  Police 
who  nftth  crushed  with  a  heavier  hand,  whose  sword 
made  tiye  execution  ground  as  slippery.  Recall  ye 
not  the  merry  summer's  night  when  with  mine  own 
hand,  in\en  waves  of  the  scymitar,  I  carved  my 
old  jester  mto  as  many  pieces  ? 
AFIFE.  TheVd  jester  !  Ha  I  Ha  1  'Twas  his  last 

quirk !  \ 

KAFUR.    How  \e  laughed ! 

^THEY  all  laugh.} 

MANSUR.  Alas  forVthe  glorious  drunken  nights  of 
passion  and  powet  The  feasts  of  beauty  and 
blood  !  Awah,  awaty  awah  ! 


58  KISMET 


KAFUR.     Were  Prince  Omar  Caliph,  never  wouldst 

thou  have  lost  thy  seat  of  honour. 
.  AFIFE.     Higher  titles  would  have  been  thine.     He 

loves  thee  as  a  brother. 

KAFUR.    He  would  have  created  thee  Grand  Wazir. 
AFIFE.     Yea,  Grand  Wazir  of  all  the  kingdom  I 
MANSUR^    Were  !  Would  !  Had  !    The  Caliph's  the 
"Pf*  "BflHis  letter  the  thing  alive  !     The  spent  moneys 
^0*.  Lv*"*^    must  be  accounted  for.    'Tis  my  death.    AwtSfl 

* 


KAFUR.    The  guards  are  yet  under  thy  orders. 

MANSUR.     For  the  moment.    But  to-night 

AFIFE.     Use  to-day. 

KAFUR.    (Pointing  to  the  chessboard.")    One  move  — 

and  the  game  is  thine. 
MANSUR.    (J?ea/ising]!iAFUX.'s  intention.)   Yehh!    Kill 

the  Caliph?    (Ht  rietr  in  thought) 

(KAFUR  and  AFIFE  nodmndfoli**)  him,  standing 
on  either  side  of  him.) 

'  KAFUR.    'Tis  he  - 
/t*  AFIFE.     Or  thou. 

MANSUR.    (Looking  from  AFIFE  to  KAFUR.)    TJfcMfl 
But  how?    When?    Who?    (Turning  to  AFIFE.) 
Thou? 
rji  AFIFE.     (Grovelling  at  MANSUR'S  feet.)    Alas!    I  lack 

the  strength. 

MANSUR.     (Turning  to  KAFUR.)    Thou? 
KAFUR.     (Falling  on  his  knees.)     Am  I  not  known  by 

every  servant  in  the  palace  ? 

MANSUR.  Then  where  shall  I  find  him  ?  This  fellow 
strong  enough,  unknown  enough,  to  stab  and  stab 
tn 


KAFUR.  Fear  not^Fate  hath  written  the  deed  in 
the  lines  of  someone's  forehead.  And  when  the 
hour  comes  he  will  be  ready.  v* 

ur" 


KISMET  59 

.,MANS 


K»-  -*  ^-  J, 

(The  door  opens  and  the  ATTENDANT  enters  and       f  £  &£*** 
bows.     Outside  voices  can  be  heard.)  ,   •'  .  , 

MANSUR.    What  noise  is  that  ?    -- 

ATTENDANT.      Some  merchants   in  the  hall,  O  my 

lord.    They  have  caught  a  thief  and  come  for  justice. 
MANSUR.     Justice  —  do   they  ?    Justice  !     By  Allah  ! 

I'll  dispense  them  justice.     Have  them  enter.     (He 

goes  back  to  the  diwan  and  sits.) 

(KAFUR  and  AFIFE  take  their  wonted  positions 
by  his  side.) 

(The  two  shopkeepers,  A^IRU  and  ZAYD,  enter, 
after  them  NASIR,  the  CAPTAIN  OF  THE 
WATCH  and  FOUR  ARCHERS.  A  crowd  of 
loiterers  (six  or  eight)  follow,  who  kneel  or 
stand  in  the  background.  AMRU  and  ZAYD 
approach  and  kneel.  Two  NEGRO  EUNUCHS 
enter  and  stand  at  the  back.) 


O  eye  of  uprightness  ! 

judgment. 

MANSUR.     Speak  your  grievance. 
AMRU.     There  came  a  man  to  my  shop  - 
ZAYD.     And  mine  - 
AMRU.    And  he  fanned  a  quarrel  'twixt  me  and  my 

fondest  friend. 
ZAYD.     And  meantime  off  he  stole  with  garments  of 

both  of  us. 
MANSUR.    Where's  the  thief? 

(HAJJ  is/  brought  through  the  door  by  Two 
ARCHERS  and  prostrates  himself  before 
MANSUR,  the  ARCHERS  retiring) 

HAJJ.     (  With  great  saintliness,  on  his  knees.)    O  Wazir 
of  wazira,  O  Wisdom  of  wisdom,   O  Clemency  of 


60  KISMET 

clemencies !  I   seek    refuge   in    thy   sanctity   from 
these   my   foul-mouthed   defamers.      A    thief — I? 
Allah  forfend.     I  am  a  man  of  religion  and  peace. 
They  fell  to  fisticuffs  and  curses  before  me,  these 
two, — till  mine  ears  were  stung  with  their  ungodliness 
and  mine  eyes  wounded.     So  I  laid  my  moneys  on 
the  carpet  of  the  shop  and  went  my  silent  ways. 
ZAYD  AND  AMRU.     (Together?)     Liar  ! 
AMRU.     We'd  not  so  much  as  fixed  on  a  price. 
HAJJ.      Wilt    thou    swear   I   paid  thee  no   earnest 
money  ? 

U.     A  miserable  dinar  or  two  to  blind  me. 
HAJJ.     Blind  thee  ?    What  cause  had  I  to  blind  thee  ? 
ZAYD.     Thou  art  a  well-known  beggar. 
HAJJ.     A  beggar  ?    Showed  I  thee  not  a  swollen 

purse  ? 

ZAYD.     A  stolen  purse — thou  meanest. 
HAJJ.     He  lies,   O  my  lord.    'Twas  given  me  in 

charity. 

MANSUR.     Given  thee  ?    By  whom  ? 
HAJJ.     By  one  Jawan — a  highwayman. 
MANSUR.     A  highwayman  do  charity?     Now  Allah 

pardon  thee.     Tell  the  truth. 
HAJJ.     May  doomsday  break  if  I  lie. 
MANSUR.     How  ?     A  highwayman  here  in  Baghdad  ? 
An  exile  with  a  price  on  his  neck  ?    Thou  art  mad. 
HAJJ.     By  mine  honesty!     There   stands  his  guide 

Nasir.     Ask  him. 

MANSUR.     (To  NASIR.)    O  thou  !    Is  this  so  ? 

NASIR.     (Coming forward  and  kneeling  between  HAJJ 

and  the  merchants?)     'Tis  true  such  an  one  lodges 

at  my   Khan,  O   my   lord.     But  he   is   come   to 

\r^     the  city  in  repentance,  to  pray   at  the   tombs   of 

saints. 

MANSUR.  {Furious?)  Saints  and  repentance !  His 
coming  spits  at  the  law  I  {To  the  CAPTAIN  OF  THE 
WATCH.)  Go  with  yon  fellow.  Find  the  highway- 
man. Take  him  to  the  royal  diwan  this  mid-after- 


KISMET  61 

noon.     The  Caliph  shall  note  how  I  uphold  justice 
and  order. 

(The  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  WATCH  moves  to  the  door 
with  Two  ARCHERS.) 

r     HAJJ.     (Interrupting)     O   my   lord,  a   word !     (To 
Ajjd  }    NASIR.)    Tell  the   Lord  Wazir,  thou  sawest  the 

Sheikh  throw  me  a  purse. 
NASIR.     (Copying  HAJJ'S  manner  in  the  first  scene) 

I  ? — I  saw  no  purse. 
'HAJJ.      (Producing   the  purse;  pleading    to    him) 

Nasir  !     Here  it  is. 
NASIR.     I  saw  no  purse. 
MANSUR.     'Tis  well.     Off! 

(NASIR  goes  with  the  CAPTAIN  and  ARCHERS.) 

MANSUR.   (70  HAJJ.)  Asforthee — Give  me  the  purse ! 

HAJJ.  J^OSfl  (He  hands  the  purse  to  KAFUR,  who 
hands  it  to  MANSUR.) 

MANSUR.     (Pocketing  the  purse  in  his  sleeve)    Thou 
art  a  liar  and  a  thief.   (75?  KAFUR.)    The  sword  and 
the  cauldron  of  oil.     (KAFUR  bows  and  motions  to 
the  NEGROES  who  go  off  into  the  courtyard.) 
'    MANSUR.     Tby  right  hand  is  forfeit  to  the  merchants. 
*       HAJJ.     (Looking  at  his  hand)     My  hand  ? 

MANSUR.       (75?    the    shopkeepers,   smilingly)      Two 

fingers  to  each.     I  pray  you  quarrel  not  over  the 

thumb.    (AMRU  and  ZAYD  smile  politely  in  response) 

ft,       HAJJ.     My  hand !     My  hand  !     Thou'lt  cut  off  my 

hand? 

«_   MANSUR.     Says  not  Allah  in  His  Holy  Koran  :  "  If  a 
man  steal,  cut  off  his  hand  "  ? 

HAJJ.  Alas,  O  poor  hand!  Thou  couldst  have 
served  the  Wazir  of  Wazirs,  a  courtier  to  his  whims, 
a  slave  to  his  desires.  (The  Two  EUNUCHS  re-enter 
from  the  court-yard  bearing  a  boiling  cauldron) 

MANSUR.  Now  by  the  dog,  thy  father,  of  what 
service  to  me  were  a  rogue's  hand  like  thine  ? 


62  KISMET 

(The  EUNUCHS  place  the  boiling  cauldron  on 
HAJJ'S  wrist.) 

HAJJ.     What   service?     There's   not   a  stronger — a 

prompter — a  bolder  in  Baghdad  !    Ready  to  plunder 

and  pillage,  to  slash  and  stab,  at  thy  least  command. 
fy(    MANSUR.     (Starting  at  the  word"  stab".)    Stab? 
,  KAFUR.     (To  HAJJ.)    Cease  thy  talk,  bare  thy  wrist 

(He  unsheathes  the  sword.) 
HAJJ.      (Turns  and  sees  the  sword,  then  says  in  a 

resigned  voice.)    There  is  no  majesty  nor  might  save 

in  Allah!  The  Causer  of  Causes!    The  Ordainer 

of  Fate  and  Fortune  ! 
KAFUR.      (About   to  raise  the  sword.)     Art    thou 

prepared  ? 
HAJJ.   Even  as  the  Fox  for  the  Wolf.     Strike  I 

(KAFUR  raises  the  sword.) 
MANSUR.    Hold!— The  Fox  and  the  Wolf?— What 

story  is  that  ? 
HAJJ.     O  Wazir  of  the  Age,  'twere  too  long  to  recount 

— (looking  round  slyly.)  with  yon  sword  in  the  air. 
MANSUR.     Then  shall  it  first  sever  thy  wrist. 
HAJJ.     (With  an  eloqitent  gesture.)     Who,  can  tell  a 

tale  without  his  two  hands  ?  £•-*-,-*$>**">  (j? 
MANSUR.     Knowest  thou  many  histories  ? 
HAJJ.    Ask  the  beggars  of  my  quarter.    The  teller 

of  night-tales  they  call  me — one  and  all. 
MANSUR.    Away  with  the  cauldron !    (To  KAFUR.) 

Hither  with  the  sword. 

(KAFUR  hands  MANSUR  the  sword;  the  EUNUCHS 
take  the  cauldron  into  the  courtyard.) 

MANSUR.    What  is  thy  name  ? 

HAJJ.    (Creeps  nearer,  on  his  knees.)    Hajj,  O  my  lord. 

MANSUR.     Thou  shalt  serve  me,  O  Hajj.    Thy  wit 

shall  shorten  the  weary  watches  of  my  sleeplessness. 

Take  this  sword,  the  badge  of  thy  new  dignity. 

(He  offers  him  the  sword.) 


ISMET  63 


HAJJ.     O  fountain  of  grace  !     My  hand  blesses  thee 

/for  ifcs   salvation,  my  lowly  self  for   its  elevation. 

/  (He  takes  tfie  sword  and  raises  it  to  his  forehead.)    I 

am   thy  mameluke,.  thy   chattel.     (He  touches  the. 

ground  with  his  head.} 

MANSUR.     Rise  !     Mansur's  servants  do  not  kneel. 
HAJJ.     (Rising  proudly.)     Is  it  thy  pleasure  that  my 

first  act  should  be  an  act  of  clemency  ? 
MANSUR.     Do  as  thou  wilt. 
HAJJ.     (Turning  ferociously  on  the  shopkeepers.)     Then 

down,  O  ye  calamities !     Down,  I  say,  and  cry  my 

mercy  for  lying  as  ye  did,  ye  false-of-faces  ! 

(The  SHOPKEEPERS  sink  down  in  terror.  HAJJ 
approaches  them  flourishing  his  sword  before 
them.) 

HAJJ.     Confess  ye  lied  !     Confess  ye  lied  ! 

AMRU  and  ZAYD.     (Scarcely  audible?)    We  lied  !    We-. 

lied! 

HAJJ.     Louder,  by  your  garlic  breaths,  louder  ! 
AMRU  and  ZAYD.     We  lied  !     Pardon !    Pardon  ! 
HAJJ.     Pardon  ? — So  ye  send  not  my  lord  rich  gifts 

of  atonement  none  shall  answer  for  your  lives.     Up ! 

Turn  your  faces  and   show  the   breadth  of  your 

shoulder. 

W*" 

(The  SHOPKEEPERS  rise  and  hurry  out  by  the 
door>  more  dead  than  alive.  HAJJ  prods  their 
backs  with  his  sword  as  they  vanish.) 

HAJJ.    (Turning  to  MANSUR  with  a  flourish!)    Is  it 
well,  O  my  master  ? 

MANSUR.     'Tis  a  beginning.     Go  now !     Get  thee  to    , 
thy  new  quarters.    (To  /A?  ATTEND A^T.)  Ho'fagl 1    • 
See  Hajj  be  lodged  and  robed  fittingly.     Garb  him 
in  <4fcg  Persian    parments^nfc  mir  .fan**   ifran  iga/ji   ilL 
Alas,  poor  fellow!     He   died   most  sudden   of  a 
immer  evening.     (With  a  reassuring  smile.)     Thou 


cL^^- 


64  KISMET 


HAJJ.  I*S!fS  a  tree  thy  bottrilj  liaili  ^fllted.  May 
the  fruit  of  mv gjadeavour  be  to  thy  taste  ever.  (He 

MANSUR.  Thou  shalt  giy»  us  a  smack  of  thy  quality 
after  the  mid-day  mearfT  Go  !  Whoso  loveth  me 
let  him  show  honofir  to  Hajj  !  (He  waves  his 
handkerchief  in  si&f  of  dismissal.) 

HAJJ.  (Turns  gfm  with  a  heroic  gesture  motions  the 
curious  asidjd)  Room  for  the  Wazir's  Jester,  O  ye 


(The  CROWD  falls  back  before  him.) 
(The  ATTENDANT  leads  the  way  to  the  left.)£+  ( 
(HAJJ  struts  out  condiicted  by  the  ATTENDANT.) 

MANSUR.  (To  KAFUR  and  AFIFE.)  Think  ye  I've 
pardoned  this  mountebank  to  listen  to  foolish 
fables  ?  (  With  great  emphasis.)  He  is  the  man. 

KAFUR.    What  man  ? 

MANSUR.     The  man  to  kill  the  Caliph. 

(Through  the  colonnade  at  the  back  HAJJ  is  seen  to 
enter  t/ie  courtyard  from  the  left  and  cross  over 
to  the  right,  preceded  by  the  ATTENDANT, 
MANSUR'S  SERVANTS  and  Two  EUNUCHS, 
bending  low,  the  crowd  following.  HAJJ  turns 
to  the  hall  and  seeing  MANSUR,  bows  again  to 
him.  MANSUR  acknowledges  his  bow  with  a 
grim  smile.  HAJJ,  delighted,  turns,  twirling 
his  moustachios  and  with  enormous  swagger 
moves  to  the  colonnade,  right,  the  ATTENDANT 
(ringing  to  the  new  favourite.) 


[CURTAIN] 
End  of  Act  i 


ACT   II 


66       BEFORE    THE    CURTAIN 

NOON 

The  MAN  enters  from  his  house,  seats  himselj 
and  sings  : 

Lo  !  Now  the  blazing  banner  of  the  sun 
In  noonday  sky  its  victory  hath  won ; 
And  even  as  on  mighty  battle  plain 
So  lieth,  stretched  and  stricken,  everyone. 

The  WOMAN  enters  from  her  house,  seats  herself 
and  sings  : 

Lo  !  Now  in  the  harim  I  seek  in  vain 
The  shadowed  cool  of  midnight  to  regain ; 
Yet  though  I  burn,  'tis  not  the  heaven's  eye 
'  /     That  dooms  my  senses  to  eternal  pain  ! 

The  MAN 

Wah  !  That  some  wondrous  wizard  passing  by 
Would  charm  to  silence  this  my  misery.  v._ 

The  WOMAN 

Wah  !  Might  some  mystic  spell  invade  me  so 
That  all  my  yearning  would  for  ever  die  ! 

BOTH 

O  Thou,  Bestower  of  all  things,  bestow 
This  benediction  on  Thy  servantslow. 

Thf^^mfefiKR.  enters  an^^ixsTvmcals  the  MAN 
to  the  WOMAN,  and  the  WOMAN  to  the  MAN. 
When  he  has  retired  they  rise  and  sing : 

At  last  thou  openest  the  future's  wall, 
Revealing  my  desire's  inmost  call,    *£ 
O  Fate,  thou  greatest  sorcerer  of  all  ! 

Th''ii  ///<']•  draw  f< ^iJicr  /,-'/•  an  instant.  But 
the  hour  is  not  yet  ripe.  So  they  turn  and 
enter  their  respective  houses.  They  have  seen 
each  other. 


• 


KISMET  67 


ACT   II 

AFTERNOON 
SCENE  I.     The  Hall  in  the  Wazir  Mansttr's  Mansion. 

The  same  scene  as  the  last,  but  richl*  embroidered  curtains 
have  now  been  drawn  betu<f.m  the  columns  to  keep 
out  the  glare  of  the  afternoon  sun.  This  gives  tk: 
room  a  more  intimate  feeling.  Two  large  cushions 
have  been  placed  on  the  floor  and  between  them  i 
low  wine-table  with  beakers  of  wine,  drinking 
bowls,  fruits,  sweetmeats,  and  a  bunch  of  aromatic 
herbs. 


MANSUR  is  reclining  on  one  cushion.  AFIFE  and 
KAFUR  jrr  rrr  ffrr  frmnrr  Two  SLAVES  stand 
ready  to  replenish  the  cups. 

On  the  cushion  to  the  left  is  seated  HAJJ,  in  a  brilliant 
fantastic  Persian  robe  and  a  gorgeous  turband.  He 
sits  up  very  erect,  his  eyes  sparkling,  his  arms  out- 
stretched  —  evidently  at  the  climax  of  his  story. 

HAJJ.  "  Thereupon,  O  hearer,  the  fox  saw  his  foe, 
the  wolf,  was  slain  ;  and  henceforth  he  abode  alone 
\T  in  the  vineyard,  secure  to  the  hour  of  his  death." 

But  Allah  is  all-knowing  ! 

MANSUR.     In  sooth,  a  pleasing  tale  ! 

(He  drains  his  cup  and  holds  it  out  to  the  SLAV!, 
who  fills  it  up  again.") 

KAFUH.     Good  !    Good  ! 

AFIFS.     (Clapping  his  hands  .)    More!  More!  More. 
MANSUR.     (Signing  to  the  slave  behind  HAJT.)    Nay 
first  another  cup 

v  a 


68  KISMET 

HAJJ.     (Putting  his  hand  over  his  cup.)     O  my  Lord, 
pardon  me.     I  am  not  wont  to  drink  wine. 

MANSUR,     Tush  !     'Tis  nothing.     Thin,  red  morning 
tipple.     This  night  will  we  robe  us  in  robes  of  gold 
and  flame-colour   and  fall   to  quaffing  in  earnest ; 
sweet  Greek  vintage  that  breeds  gladness  even  to 
madness.     (He  holds  out  the  cup,  which  the  SLAVE 
fills.     Then  MANSUR  passes  it  to  HAJJ.)     May  I 
never  be  afflicted  with  thy  loss/  ^  c£*»"V  *&•*!>* 
(HAJJ,  bowing  to  MANSUR,  accepts  the  cu£  and 
kisses  it.) 

HAJJ.     The  slave  to  thy  wishes  revealed  or  concealed. 

(He  drains  it  and  returns  it  to  MANSUR.) 
MANSUR.     (Pointedly.)     So  thou  sayest  and  hast  said. 
HAJJ.     Put  me  to  the  test,  O  my  master.     What  tale 

dost  thou  desire  ? 

MANSUR.      What    tale?      (Confidentially    to   HAJJ.) 
_  £     Harkee,  O   Hajj.      Thou  hast  wasted   thy  years. 

Thou  canst  turn   the  ear   inside  out  by  thy  talk. 
X       Long  ago  thy  wit  should  have  won  thee  a  wazirdom. 
HAJJ.     I  ?    Wazir  ? 
MANSUR.     Yehh  !  Thou   art  marked  for  it  by  fate. 

Is  this  not  so,  O  Kafur? 
KAFUR.     Thou  hast  said  it. 
^MANSUR.     (To   HAJJ.)      Thou   seest?      There's   no 

escaping  honours,  O  Hajj  the  Wazir  !     O  the  Wazir 

Hajj! 
HAJJ.     (Stroking  hit  moustachios.)    The  Wazir  Hajj  ! 

O  my  lord,  what  stair  will  lead  me  to  so  high  a 
_>  iiiimirrT? 
MANSUR.     What  stair  ? 

(The  ATTENDANT  enters  by  the  door.ji-^ 

ATTENDANT.     'Tis  the  hour  of  the  di^ap,  O   my 

lord. 
MANSUR.     The  diwan !    'Tis  well.     (Rises.)     (The 

ATTENDANT  leaves.)    I  go  to  robe  myself.     Await 


KISMET  69 

me  but  a  handful  of  moments,  O  my  friend.  When 
I  return  I  shall  open  a  gate  undreamt  of  by  thy 
dearest  dream.  Till  then,  Allah  increase  thee,  O 
Wazir  to  be. 

(MANSUR  goes  off  followed  by  KAFUR,  AFIFE, 
and  the  Two  SLAVES.) 

HAJJ.  Wazir  !  Wazir  !  Another  cup !  A  cup  to  thee, 
O  Wazir  Hajj,  thou  friend  of  the  great,  thou  of  the 
great  thyself.  (He  drinks  another  cup  and  struts  X 
across  the  room.)  Wazir !  (He  approaches  the 
diwan.)  Yehh  !  Why  not  ?  {He  seats  himself  on 
the  diwan.)  Even  such  a  seat  was  destined  my 
limbs  from  eternity !  ( With  a  chuckle.)  The 
Wazir  Hajj !  f 

(MiSKAH,  aslavfrgirl,  enters  through  the  curtains 
at  the  back./  She  is,  of  course,  -veiled.     She 
looks  about  cautiously,  then  glides  to  HAJJ'S  I.. . 
side,  and  throws  herself  at  his  feet.) 

MISKAH.  O  my  master,  my  mistress  bids  me  come 
kiss  the  dust  of  thy  slippers. 

HAJJ.  Yehh !  Who  may  be  the  mistress  of  so  fair 
a  messenger  ? 

MISKAH.     Hush !     If  we  be  heard  'tis  death.       ^  . 

HAJJ.     Speak  low  then.     What  is  it  ?          ^£f^S 

MISKAH.  'Tis  sooner  told  than  mended.  •  At  noon- 
tide, lying  within  the  lattice  of  the  harim,  my  lady 
saw  thee  cross  the  courtyard — the  servants  bowing 
to  earth  before  thy  valiant  stride. 

HAJJ.  (Delighted.)  Valiant  stride  !  (He  strokes  his 
moustachios.)  Yehh !  Did  she,  forsooth  ? 

MISKAH.  O  noble  stranger,  who  art  thou  ?  Whence 
comest  thou  ?  What  is  the  measure  of  thy  staying  ? 
Such  and  more  would  my  mistress  know.  For  from 
noon  till  now  is  all  her  being  become  one  yearning 
question. 

HAJJ.     And  all  my  being  from  now  to  eternity  one 


70  KISM] 

£  ^r  ^ 

burning  reply.     So  haste  !    Brinj^tis  together  that 

we  may  spell  a  sweet  completeness.          [Ajw 
MISKAH.     Follow  me,  then.    "But  by  the  M^  of  thy 

head  mark  thy  path.     For  we  must  s*ep  over  the 

sleeping  door-keeper  of  the  harim.x  I  have  plied 

him  with  drugs.     Three  blessed  hours  will  he  lie 

thus  in  stupor — no  longer.     After  me  ! 
HAJJ.     Hold !     I  cannot  leave.     Any   moment   the 

Wazir  may  return.     Might  not  thy  mistress  favour 

me  with  her  coming  (^Hvsv*0 
MISKAH.     Hither  ? 
HAJJ.     (Pointing  to  the  door.)    Thou  couldst  s 

guard. 
MISKAH.     I'll  take  thy  message,  O  my  master? 

her  consent  means  madness .    (She  disappears  through 

the  curtains.)  Ate 

HAJJ.     (Left  alone,   smiles.)    "Madness!"    "Valiant 

stride  ! "     (He  sits  erect.)     "  Noble  stranger ! "     O 

Hajj !      Thou   wast    not   so   mistaken   in   thyself. 

There's  a  something,  a  somehow  about  thee — no 

doubt  of  that ! 


(He  draws  out  his  sword  using  the  blade  as  a 
mirror  by  which  to  arrange  his  moustachios.) 

(The  curtains  part  again — MISKAH  re-enters.) 

MISKAH.     She  comes  !    (She  glides  rapidly  to  the  door 
left  and  sits  listening.) 

KUT-AL-KULUB  enters,  a  voluptuous  woman  of 
the"  ripe  oriental  type — she  is  about  eight  and 
twenty.  Her  dress  is  very  rich,  over  it  a 
gorgeous  mantle.  Her  veil  is  of  the  thinnest.) 

Kux-AL-K.     (Kneeling  before  him.)      Welcome   and 

well  come  to  my  illustrious  lord. 
HAJJ.   A  thousand  blessings  on  thy  white  forehead,  O 

mistress  of  my  days. 
Kux-AL-K.     Allah,  forgive  me  J    Only  the  wildness  of 

V 


KISMET  71 

despair  could  drive  me  to  break  the  bonds  of  my 

harim. 

HAJJ.     I  am  earth  to  thy  treading. 
Kux-AL-K.     (With  a  sigh  and  exaggerated  emotion.) 

Now,  by  my  life  !    I  knew  mine  eyes  beheld  a  king 

the   instant   they  lighted   upon   the   grace   of  thy 

being.     Help  me  !     Help  me  !     I  am   oppressed 

beyond  endurance. 

HAJJ.     Who  art  thou  ?     One  of  Mansur's  wives  ? 
Kux-AL-K.    (Springing  up,  indignantly?)    One  -  ?   I 

am  the  Wife  of  wives  ?  A.  *» 

MTSKAH.    5^  —  shM  .^X^^S*1 

HAJJ.     His  first?    The  great,  lady? 
Kux-AL-K.     First  in  fact.  -  Yet  might  I  be  the  least 

and  lowest  —  a  blackamoor  kitchen  wench  —  were  I 

to  be  ranked  by  his  reckoning.  f(»i**ZZ*    L.  > 
HAJJ.     Never  tell  me  he  ceases  adoring  thee  even  for 

the  wink  of  an  eye-lid. 

.    (Shrilly.)     Cease  adoring^^He  1 
(  Warningly.)    S  —  shj* 

with  appeal.}   Behold 


this  arm  !  (Sff&J&ffSuces  a  gorgeous  arm  from  her 
cloak.)  Is  thjs'arnv^shrivelled  ?  Shrunk  ? 

HAJJ.  (Aflfrfiringly.)  >^rivclled  ?  What  dog  says 
shriv£ll€u  ?  \ 

Kirp-A'L-K.    (Opening  her  r/ra^^This  bosonjuyellow  ? 

iMjj.     (Overcome.)     Yellow,  thisneRl  (jrfmes  ? 

Kux-AL-K.  (Turning  back}  Now  tell  me,  by  thine 
nour:  callest  thou  me  hump-backed? 


(She  drops  the  cloak  and  turns  round  revealing  her 
form,provokingly  clad  in  scanty  splendour.)   --^^ 

HAJJ.     O  thou  copious  beauty  !     Am  I  a  boy  that         J 
thou  shouldst  mock  me  thus  ?  ^X 

Kux-AL-K.    ( Unveiling  her  face}    Or  is  my  face  pock- 
pitted  ?    My  nose  crooked  ?     My  mouth  crumpled  ? 

HAJJ.     Allah  help  me  !     What  art  thou  doing  to  me, 
O  cruel  one  ?X  «,  \^  v 


72  KISMET 

Kto-AL-K.  ( With  a  gliding  step  as  she  approaches  him 
languorously.)  And  my  gait?  ^Making  slow 
gesfb^es.)  Is  my  motion  like  ^.--popinjay's  on  a 
perch'i,  (Coming  close  to  him  apd 'sitting  on  the  diwan 
below  him.)  My  glance  the- stare  of  a  dead  thing? 

HAJJ.  O  sSm  of  the  ag^ef  Dazzle  not  my  sight  to 
blindness  ! \Strike  n^t  my  senses  to  frenzy. 

Kux-AL-K.  (Keignipg  surprise,  -veiling  her  face,  and 
turning  from  h^nT)  Woe  upon  me  !  Hath  my  rage 
disrobed  me, 

HAJJ.  O  ligjarc  of  Splendour,  cloud  not  thy  rays.  Shut 
me  not  in  blackest  darkness. 

veil  a  little  from   her  face, 
:h? 


Mt5re 

Kux-AL-K.  ( (7Viij1iflf'ffj  fur  jw'/iimr/ii'hV^  )  O  thou  man 
among  men  !  Why  must  I  obey  thy  bidding  ?  (She 
looks  down  provokingly.) 

HAJJ.     (Drawing  closed)     What  is  thy  name  ?  ^ 

Kux  AL-K.     Kut-al-Kulub,  the  food  of  hearts. 

HAJJ.  In  very  sooth,  thou  art  the  food  of  hearts.  I 
could  feast  on  thy  plenty  for  ever  and  yet  be  an- 
hungered still. 

Kux-AL-K.  Alas !  Why  have  I  never  heard  words 
like  thine  till  now  ? 

HAJJ.     (Coaxing.)     Never  till  now  ? 

Kux-AL-K.  ( Coyly.)  By  my  head,  never !  All  day 
and  all  night  I  sit  alone  under  my  silent  dome,  in 
the  fever  of  my  solitude ;  my  tears  my  sole 
consolers. 

HAJJ.     Tears  !    Thou  must  let  me  come  to  thee  and      v 
kiss  them  away.  /Txl     i 

Kux-AL-K.     (Pretending  horror.)     Art  thou  mad  ?  0{j       /. 

HAJJ.     Aye,  maddened  by  the  insolence  of  thy  beauty.  C*~* 

Kux-AL-K.     (&ijja&*wi\i  '"fuming  "from    mm,  pro- 
Alhhl  i  Kiif     mi?    Thnu?     Out     on 


KISMET 


73 


thee  !    'Tis  easily  seen  thou  art  loved  too  much,  by 

too  many. 
HAJJ.     (He  follows  her,  comes  close  to  her,  and  suddenly 

says  in  a  very  businesslike  way.)     When  shall  it 
Kux-AL-K.     (Dropping    all   artifice,    eagerly.)  /This 

evening — early — with  the  new  risen  moon.yr     x 
A,t    HAJJ.     How  shall  I  reach  thee  1  f<Wu***fr'€**-  ) 
Kux-AL-K.     Come   to   this    cotirtyard./'My   faithful 

slave  of  the  firehole  shall  await  thyroming  and  lead 

thee  by  an  unknown  passage  und^r  the  baths  straight 

to  the  heart  of  the  harim.  *^ 
MISKAH.     (  Springing   up,  anxiously.)     O    mistress 

(She  points  to  the  door^ft  -\ 

(HAJJ  kisses  Kux-AL-K.  on  the  lips.  She  tears 
herself  away  and  hurries  off  through  the 
turtains  followed  by  MISKAH.) 

11s 


(Fftrtging   his   arms   out   in   ecstacy.] 

(Hearing    MANSUR,    he    quickly    resumes    the 
position  on  the  floor,  in  which  MANSUR  left 


(MANSUR  re-enters  clad  in  armour,  followed  -by 
KAFUR  and  AFIFE.) 


- 


MANSUR.     O  Wazir  Hajj  —  are   thine  eyes  ready  for 

me  to  open  ? 

HAJJ.     Ready,  O  my  master. 
MANSUR.     Swear  that  thou  wilt  never  reveal  what  I 

HAJJ,-—  I  give  thee  the  bond  of  Allah,  to  whom  belong 

rionour  and  glory. 
MANSUR.     'Tis  well.     How  prompt  art  thou  to  do  a 

deed? 

HAJJ.     (Kneeling}     Order  me  do,  and  'tis  done. 
MANSUR.     (After  a  pause.)     Kill  the  Caliph. 
HAJJ.     (Thunderstruck.)     The—  Caliph? 
MANSUR.     I  said  what  I  said. 


74  KISMET 


HAJJ.     The   Caliph!     »ii  "Vt 

Shed  his  sacred  blood  ? 
MANSUR.  •£«**d^~HbMMM9    A  toy  to  a  tutor?  (*•* 

Prince  Omar  should  be  reigning  in  his  stead. 
HAJJ.     Prince  Omar  ! 
MANSUR.    ¥eMH    He's  no  parchment-worm  !    He's 

a  man,  a  warrior,  a  king  to  the  core. 
HAJJ.     And  were  Prince  Omar  Caliph  —  how  would 

that  help  my  cause  ? 
MANSUR.     The   hour  he's   proclaimed   Caliph,    that 
hour  am  I  Grand  Wazir.     Once  Grand  Wazir,  there's 
no  favour  too  lofty  for  thee  to  climb  to.  /     jjt? 

HAJJ.     \akM  !     But  why  choose  me   for   the   deed  ? 
Me,  from  all  the  servants  that  encircle  thee  as  the 
white  of  the  eye  doth  the  black. 
t,t  MANSUR.     I  wish  to  honour  thee., 
*f  HAJJ.     (Not  without  humour?)    Honour  me  less,  I 

pray  thee. 
MANSUR.     Wouldst  thou  have  me  nick  a  fool  for  such 

work  ?     I  tell  thee,  thou  ar/thyman. 
HAJJ.     (Confused.)    AwahyTS^    Caliph!     To    at- 
tempt to  approach  him>urralnded  as  he  is  ever  by 
a  body-guard  of  reaity^scymfars  ! 
MANSUR.     Naught  irn  rnr^r      He  holds  his  diwan  after 
i    f       mid-afternoon  prayer,  dealing  decrees  to  great  and 
V/        small,  bidding  and  forbidding.     Didst  thou  not  say 

ertswhile  thou  knewest  how  to  juggle  ? 
HAJJ.     Trick   on   trick  !     Oft   I   play   them    at    my 

corner  !     A  wizard  from  Morocco  was  my  teacher. 
MANSUR.     The  very   device  !     Even    such    another 
Moorman  shalt  thou  stand  to-day  before  the  Caliph 
\      seeking  protection  as  a  stranger.      I'll  turn  it  so 
^  \    that  he  bids  thee  unfold  these  tricks  of  thine?*  !)«*-. 
'.  /      thou,  by  thy  skit1,  draw  him  step  by  step  from  his 
throne,  till  he  pass  beyond  the  circle  of  safety  and* 
stand    unguarded,   unhctdful   by   thy    side.     Then 
•  C     sudden  plunge  thy  dagger. 
\Jfc  HAJJ.     The  guards  would  cut  me  down. 


KISMET  75 

MANSUR.     Once  the  Caliph  killed,  the  command  of 

the  guards  falls  unto  me. 
HAJJ.     Ask  aught  else.     This  I  cannot 
MANSUR.     (Half   aloud    as    to    himself,   temptingly?) 

Hajj,  the  Wazir !     The  Wazir  Hajj ! 
HAJJ.     I  cannot  kill  Allah's  messenger.  ,  Cut  off  my 

hand  and  let  me  go.  £  fa+**4jt^  I*.* 
MANSUR.     (g*'riffl4    Let    thee    go?     Now?     Thy 

hand  to  ransom  thee  with  such  a  secret  in  thy  heart  ? 

By  the  Venger  of  villainy,  thou  shall  not  leave  this 

house  alive !    'Tis   either   my  cup  companion,   or 

(pointing,)  down  into  the  vaults  of  oblivion. 
HAJJ.     Was  il  for  this  I  was  raised  to  favour? 
MANSUR.     (Sneeringfy.)     For  thy  beauty — mayhap? 
HAJJ.     (Clenching  his  hands.)    The  Caliph.    I  cannot! 

I  cannot ! 

MANSUR.     Thou  art  a  coward. 
HAJJ.     Not  for  myself.    Bui  I  have  others  in  my  life. 

Affections   that    bind    me.      I    have   a  daughter. 

A*«8h4     (He  grovels  on  the  ground.) 
MANSUR.     ( With  a  sudden  look  at  KAFUR.)     Young  ? 

Unmarried  ? 

HAJJ.     Unmarried.    4fi^f! 
MANSUR.     Fair  ? 

HAJJ.     Fairer  than  fair.     Wilh  a  voice  like  a  nightin- 
gale's.    A  thousand  songs  are  hers.      When  she 

dances — the  gates  of  Paradise  are  opened.  L  t$~\j**f** 
MANSUR.     (Doubtfully.)     Sayesl  Ihou  so.    (He  mcntes 

signs  to  AFIFE  and  KAFUR,  unobserved  by  HAJJ.) 
.  ~-ry    HAJJ.V'  I  lell  Ihee  she  is  a  slice  of  the  moon  !     With 
/|Li/*      lips  tender,  and  waist  slender,  and  graces  countless, 

.ifo  tongue  can  render. 
MANSUR.     By  Allah !     Thou  hast  set  me  afire.     I'll 

take  her  to  wife. 
HAJJ.     (Overcome.)     Thou?    The  Wazir   Mansur — 

my  Marsinah  ? 
MANSUR.     Even  so. 
HAJJ.     (JPfiMj, 'iW  dyiMiyg.)     Wife  ? 


l(fct~~    \ 


KISMET 


V? 


MANSUR.  Yea,  wife — not  concubine.  My  other 
wives  will  I  put  away  from  me.  She  shall  be  first 
of  them  all. 

HAJJ.     Thou'lt  swear  it  ? 

MANSUR.  Swear  it?  (He  raises  his  right  hand.)  The 
Opening  Chapter  of  the  Koran  be  between  me  and 
thee  upon  this/  Afife,  Kafur,  be  ye  sponsors  to  our 
coj»psrcTl5e!ore  the  Most  High.  (He  holds  out  his 
right  palm.) 

HAJJ.  (Putting  his  right  palm  against  Mansui's.)  Ye. 
have  heard. 

AFIFE  AND  KAFUR.     (Together!)    We  have  heard^ 

MANSUR.  So  be  it.  I'll  make  her  mine  at  sunset. 
The  eunuchs  of  the  harim  shall  bring  her  hither 
this  self-same  hour.  N^  f^  •£t*+~*l-  \fifa 

HAJJ.  Nay,  let  me  go  with  them.  Such  tidings  shall 
she  learn  from  none  save  her  father:.  (He  moves  to 
the  door.)  \*4*^ 

MANSUR.  Hold !  A^  little  question  !  How  stand  we 
as  to  the  Caliph?  !  A/A  yvs. 

HAJJ.  j  The  Caliph  ?  v  Noy^thou  hast  sworn  to  marry 
aughter,  by  Him  the  Most  High,  the  One,  the 
mnipotent,  here  do  I  swear  to  stab  the  Caliph  to 
death  this  day.  k^/OsA* 

MANSUR.     (To  the  others.)     Ye  have  heard  ?(  ! 

KAFUR  AND  AFIFE.  (Raising  their  right  hands  together) 
Amin  I 

MANSUR.     (Raising  his  hand.)    Amin 

HAJJ.     (Raising  his   hand.)      Amin ! 


•timoniously.)     0   my   brothers,  the 


fame  tone)     Prayer ! 

( With  one  accord  they  all  kneel  and  bend  devoutly 
to  Meccah.) 

[CURTAIN] 


KISMET 


77 


SCENE  II 

Courtyard  of  a  poor  House.  (The  same  scene  as 
Act  I.  Scene  III.).  TJte  hot  sun  of  the  afternoon 
is  kept  off  by  some  awnings.  The  birds  in  the 
cages  hang  on  the  wall. 

MARSINAH  is  seated  on  the  bench,  her  lute  in  her  lap. 
She  sings  : — 

I- 

fader  my  veil 
"lat  hid£  I  not? 
low  cheeks  so  pale, 
*  DW  blushes  hot : 
jder  fny  veil ! 


NARJIS.      (Coming   out  of  the    htmse   with   a  large 

water-jar  and  going  to  the  well.}     Out  upon  thee, 

singing  away  thy  day !     An  thou  help  me  not  in 

the  house,  I'll  take  away  thy  trinkets. 
MARSINAH.     Touch  me,  and  my  father  shall  hear  of 

it! 
NARJIS.     Thy  father  !     'Twill  be  long  ere  thou  seest 

thy  father  again. 
MARSINAH.     I'll  not  believe  it. 
NARJIS.     I   tell   thee   this   sudden  wealth — (With  a 

gesture  of  thieving.) — came  but  byway  of  his  fingers. 

They've  found  him.     They've  taken  him. 

(A  knock  en  the  house  door.) 
MARSINAH.    SfcHhT    'Tishe! 


78  KISMET 

NARJIS.     Or  the  watch  come  for  thy  anklets. 
MARSINAH.     (Hiding  her  anklets  as  she   si/s.)     0 
Narjis  ! 

(Another  knock.) 

NARJIS.     (Hurries  to  the  door  calling  out.)     Here  am 

I !     Here  am  I !     Who  knocks  ? 
HAJJ.     (Outside.)      I !      Thy    master.       Open,    O 

Narjis. 
NARJIS.     Allah !     'Tis  thy  father.     (She  unlocks  the 

house  door.) 
MARSINAH.     (Springing  up.)    What  said  I  ? 

(Enter  HAJJ.  He  is,  of  course,  in  his  brilliant 
Persian  gown  with  his  silver  sword  in  his 
*«*.)  f 

HAJJ.     Where's  Marsinah  ?     (He  enters  the  court.)  ^ 

MARSINAH.     (Ovej-come  by  his  appearance)     O  my  *<r 

father !     What   fresh   magnificence   is   this  ?     Did 

they  set  thee  free  ? 
HAJJ.     (Looking  at  NARJIS.)     What  hast  thou  been 

saying  to  her  ?     Calling  me  thief  behind  my  heels  ? 
t     NARJIS.     Not  a  word,  O  my  lord.     I  am  thy  slave  of 

admiration. 
HAJJ.     O   slippery   mouth !      Are    thieves    clad    in 

robes  of  honour?    Are  thieves  given    swords  of 

office? 

MARSINAH.     By  my  youth !    'Tis  all  silver. 
HAJJ.     'Twill  be  gold  before  night. 
MARSINAH.     Gold  ? 
HAJJ.     And  before  yet  another  night  all  jewels  and 

gems. 
MARSINAH.     Gold !     Jewels  !     O  Jdng  of  fathers ! 

Hast  thou  discovered  some  enchanted  treasure  ?  ^N 
HAJJ.     Yea,  a  treasure  for  me  and  a  treasure  for  thee  ! 

My  dreams  are  dreams  no  longer.     They  are  alive 

as  the  breath  of  thy  lips.     (To  NARJIS.)     Go/fetch 

me  my  bundle  of  magic. 
NARJIS.     All  the  tricks  ? 


KISl^ET  79 

HAJJ.     All,  and  the  robe 

NARJIS.     Hearing  and /6bedience.     (She  goes  into  the 

house  at  back)         / 
HAJJ.     (To  MARSINAH.)    Thy  birds  ! 
MARSINAH.     My  birds?    Thou  wilt  have  a  care  of 

them  as  ever  ?/  (She  brings  the  bird  cages  to  him.) 
HAJJ.     Care  ?  f  Care  matters  not  now,  O  my  doe  !    /J  j 

Thou  shalt  have  braver  birds  than  those  ere  long.  /If  ' 

Flocks  of  white  ones  and  black  ones  to  fly  at  thy  ] 

beck  and  call.  „  «   «V  *'  *- 

MARSINAH.     White  ones>    Black  ones? 
HAJJ.     (Laughing.)       Ha !      Ha!       My    large-eyed 

wonder  !    ..Human  birds ;  slaves  !     Slaves  ! 
,  6^*   MARSINAH.     (Amazed.)     I — slaves  ? 

HAJJ.  (Squats  and  looks  into  MARSINAH'S  eyes.) 
^  .^~  Larger  and  larger  !  As  many  as  thy  whims  cry  out 
5^  for.  O  Marsinah,  child  of  mine  !  Allah  hath 

poured  blessings  untold  upon  thee.     Thou  art  to 

be  wed  to-night. 
MARSINAH.     (Joyfully.)     O  my  father  1     Thou  hast 

seen  him  !     (She  glances  up  at  the  garden  wall.) 
HAJJ.     Him?    Whom? 
MARSINAH.     (Confused)     Him ! 
HAJJ.     Thy  husband  ?     Seen  him  ?     I  am  his  cup- 
companion,  the  friend  of  his  bosom,  his  wazir  to 

come. 

MARSINAH.     His  wazir? 
HAJJ.     Indeed,  how  canst  thou  guess  ?    There  !     I'll 

play  with  thee  no  longer.    Know  thy  full  happiness. 

Thou  art  to  be  wife  to  the  Wazir  Mansur. 
MARSINAH.     (Breathless^)     Mansur? 
HAJJ.     He  !     What  sayest  thou  now  !     Has  thy  joy 

stifled  thee  quite  ? 
MARSINAH.     (Blankly.)     Mansur?     (She sinks  down, 

staring  before  her.\  %A  Vjto-il-y > 

Yes,  say  it !    fciy  it !     Till  thy  heart  leamelh 
it\To   beai  to   itSymeaSHre  I^ManWr 
•    ^^ghtyNaow,  mightieX  stffl 


80 


KISMET 


ere  long!    His  wife!     None    above    thee,  now 
e  equal  ! 
5INAH.     (Faintly,  looking  up.)     O  my  father,  * 

the  ground.     Wed  me  not  to  this  man. 
EUjj.V{.&ttr.)     Not?    Not? 
MARSIN&H.     Not    to    him,   O    my   father.     I   pray 

Allah'sjpardon,  not  to  him. 
HAJJ.     "fts  Mansur  I  speak  of — the  Wazir  of  Police. 

The  favoured  of  Fortune.     Him  thou  art  to  wed, 

to  be  his  gteat  lady,  his  wife  of  wives. 
MARSINAH.     A^as,  my  long  grief!    Say  it  not  again, 

I  entreat 

HAJJ.     Say  it  nol 

MARSINAH.     O  my^father.     Thou'lt  not  do  this  to  me. 
HAJJ.     Not  what  ? 

MARSINAH.     Not  giAme  to  him.     Not  to  him. 
HAJJ.     Thou  shalt  be\is  by  sundown. 
MARSINAH.     Sundown  \  Sundown  ?    This  night  ? 
HAJJ.     How  oft  must  I  sky  it ! 
MARSINAH.     By    the    Ineffable !     May    I    be    thy 

ransom  here  and  hereafterV  But  this, — this, — by  the 

warmth  twixt  my  heart  anck  thine,  the  sacred  bond 

of  child  and  parent,  do  not  \his  thing  to  me,  O  my 

father  and  lord,  not  this 
HAJJ.     Art  thou  raving  ? 
MARSINAH.     O  sweet  my  father !  V^entle  my  father « 

Father  of  the  true  eyes  and  tender !     Thou  didst 

love  my   mother!     Thou  wert  bV   salvation,  her 

soul's  consolation  in  the  hour  of  her\need  1     By  her 

memory,  I  conjure  thee. 
HAJJ.     (Gently.)     O     Marsinah,    my   Gazelle,    rise 

What  sudden   fright  is  thine?     Has  the  might  of 

Mansur's  name  o'erwhelmed  thee  ? 
MARSINAH.     O,  'tis  not  his  name !    'Tis  liot  fright  1 

'Tis — (Sits  upy  with  sudden  horror.)    I  cannot  go  to 

him  1    I  will  not ! 
HAJJ.    Will  not  ?    Will  not  ?    Now  woe  to  thee,  O 

thou  daughter  of  sin  1    May  Allah  never  bless  tb/r  t 


KISMET 


81 


Is  such  rnv  recompense  for\all  the  y^ars  of 
knd  moiling,  of  carl^and  cave  ?     Hav^J  work 
beggingVkfrom  da\n  to  a\sk,  screanyrfd  m 
ho\rse  for  thy^ake  ?     ^jd  dospihou  now  cry  o\it, 
1   not  ?\^"  Will  not!"   to  me,  thine   own 
father  ?  ^g^^CCL 

MARSINAH.     (Q0**»^  Pardon  me,' CLj»y*  lord.     I 

; — I  cannot.     I  cannot !  [  t*-^t-* 
T~  Cannot,  forsooth  ?     Cannot !    Art  thou  all  my 
soul  holds  dear  on  earth,  and  come  I  here  to  thee 
with  the  tiding  of  tidings — and  thou  like  the  hyena 
snarlest  and  bitest  the  hand  that  feedeth  thee  ?    Why 
canst  thou  not  ?    Why  wilt  thou  not  ?     What  is  the 
why  of  thy  why  ?     Speak  ! 
MARSINAH,  .  Awah  !  Awah  !  Awah  !  ( 


HAJJ. 
Awah 


H«r- 
-S*** 


ng  her.) 


"  Awah  ! 

By  Allah  !  Verily  he  was  a  suffering  father 
who  said  :  "  a  son  is  the  lampfc  of  a  dark  house  —  a 
daughter  a  desolation."  f^y^L-  ^ 

(NARJIS  comes  out  oftJie  house,  with  a  robe  and  a 

bright  kerchief.} 

. 
NARJIS.     (Seeing  MARSINAH  on  tJie  ground.)     What's 

here? 
HAJJ.     Comest  thou  too?     A  pretty  child  I  have, 

indeed  !     A  pretty  spirit  thou  hast  fostered  in  her. 
NARJIS.    I  —  O  my  master  ?f  ^KT—*^** 
HAJJ.    Thou  —  O  hell  hag.    Look  on  her  !    There  she 

lieth  grovelling  and  howling  like  a  kicked  dog,  so 

the  whole  quarter  will  wonder  and  come  rapping  on 


the  door.     And  what  for  ?    What  for 
honour  of  honours  has  fallen  upon  he 
be  wife  to  the  Wazir  Mansur. 
NARJIS.     Mansur's  wife  !     By  the  prop 


Because  the 
and  she  is  to 

;t,  is  this  so  ? 
ride  her.)     O 


(She  comes  to  MARSINAH  and  kneels 
Marsinah  !    Hath  thy  star  risen  at  las 
MARSINAH.     O  Narjis,  I  wish  not  to  belhis  wife. 


c 


82 


SMET 


HAJJ.  (J&fts.)  /t  wish  not !  I  cannot !  I  will  not  1 
Whose  wifo"tnen  wouldst  thou  be,  O  thou  misery  ? 

MARSINAH.  I  know  not.  No  one'a^  If  our  neighbour 
the  gardener  had  a  son — his  wife  would  I  be. 

NARJIS.     I've  told  thee  before — he  hath  no  son. 

HAJJ.  Ha  !  The  old  man,  the  gardener,  a  son  ?  He, 
with  a  face  like  a  cobbler's  apron  ?  Ha  !  Ha !  Thou 
art  jesting.  'Tis  well.  Thou  hast  fooled  me  long 
enough.  Dry  thy  tears.  Dry  thy  tears,  I  tell  thee. 

MARSINAH.  I  am  not  jesting.  Sooner  would  I  die 
than  go  to  the  Lord  Mansur. 

HAJJ.     By  my  soul — sayst  thou  true  ? 

MARSINAH.    By  thy  soul.  (She  holds  up  her  right  hand.) 

HAJJ.  (With  intense  ragt)  Now  Allah  damn  the 
mother  that  bore  thee,  and  the  father  that  begot  thee ! 
May  thy  bones  rot  and  thy  body  be  flung  on  the  ash- 
heaps  beyond  the  gates  of  the  city — thou  child  of 
abomination,  thou  shame  unforgettable  !  We  shall 
see  !  (He  goes  to  the  street  door  and  opens  it — calling.) 
Ho,  masters  !  Hither  ! 

(Two  EUNUCHS  of  the  GiiardoftJie  Harim  enter. 
MARSINAH  veils  herself) 

HAJJ.  (To  the  Eunuchs)  This  way  !  Lead  ye  this 
maid  to  your  Lord  Mansur !  Her  life  be  on  your 
heads. 

(The  EUNUCHS  cross  to  MARSINAH   and  lay 
hands  on  her.) 

MARSINAH.     (Making  a  final  appeal  to  her  father , 

kneeling)     O  my  father. 
HAJJ.     (Sternly)    Away ! 

AWrih  I  --A-Tfth  *— * 


(She  is  dragged  off  by  the  EUNUCHS.) 

(HAJJ  and  NARJIS  look  at  each   other  and  nod 
their  heads  with  utmost  content.) 

J£URTAIN] 


KISMET  83 


SCENE  III 

The  Caliph's  Diwan  (Audience  Hall).  On  the  lower 
left  side,  raised  by  a  few  steps,  stands  the  Caliph's 
diwan  or  throne  ;  below  it,  to  its  left,  a  single  gold 
cushion,  the  seat  of  honour.  At  the  back  and  to  the 
right  a  lofty  row  of  arches  opens  onto  a  terrace  from 
which  can  be  seen  the  whole  city  of  Baghdad.  To 
the  right,  benches  for  the  dignitaries  of  the  court. 
At  the  end  of  the  terrace  left,  behind  the  Caliph's 
throne,  a  great  tower  with  a  massive  door  which 
leads  down  into  the  prisons.  The  architecture  is  of 
the  finest  Arabian.  The  view  of  Baghdad  is 
gorgeous  and  sun-lit. 

The  young  CALIPH  is  seen  seated  on  his  diwan,  magni- 
ficently robed.     By  his  side  stands  a  low  table  with 
a  vase,  from  which  rises  the  single  rose  given  him  ^~     * 
by  MARS  IN  AH.    Now  and  again  he  takes  the  rose    . 
and  smells  it.     Above  him  stands  the  Wazir  ABU  £*"** 
BAKR.     Later  on,  he  seats  himself  to  the  left  of  the 
CALIPH,  in  the  place  of  honour.     Behind  the  throne 
stand  ARCHERS  with  their  lances,  and  on  its  steps 
the  GUARDS  with  scymitars  drawn. 

THREE  ELDERLY  MEN  in  Egyptian  costume  kneel  before 
the  throne.  Behind  them  stands  a  mummy-case 
with  FOUR  BLACK  SLAVES.  In  the  background 
kneel  female  MUSICIANS  and  DANCERS — eight  in 
all. 

The  CHAMBERLAIN  approaches  the  throne  and  prostrates 
himself. 

CHAMBERLAIN.  O  Prince  of  True  Believers,  the 
Ambassadors  of  Egypt  stand  before  thee  bearing  a 
petition  and  gifts  for  thy  gracious  acceptance. 

GALIPH.     Display  the  gifts.  _ 

(22#-G»£MTfERLAiN  takes  their  petition  to  the 

CALIPH,—- Mttsie  strikes  up.) 

G    2 


KISMET 

(The  AMBASSADORS  bow  and  sit  on  the  bench, 
right.  At  a  signal  the  SLAVES  open  the 
mummy-case,  and  an  Almah  (a  dancer)  steps 
out,  who  does  a  strange,  peacock-like  Egyptian 
dance,  ending  in  a  seductive  posture  at  the  feet 
of  the  throne.  The  FOUR  SLAVES  carry  the 
mummy-case  off  to  the  right.) 

CALIPH.  (Turning  to  the  three  Egyptian  men.)  O 
Wazirs  of  Cairo,  return  ye  to  Egypt  and  tell  our 
viceroy  I  accept  his  gifts  of  these  slave-girls  and 
will  consider  his  petition.  (£**•&#  CHAMPBR- 
LAIN.)  g^if  rnhf-  -f  u~nnnVhi  hnrleirrd  nil  tin 

f  iT|fl  Mfitf BinMN  i     T-Tp-ftrVpTxing  arK}-Vbfaying. 
i   THE.    THREE     AMBASSADORS.       (Bowing    low    and 

(speaking  together.)      Allah   increase   thy   glory,   O 
Commander  of  the  Faithful.  v 

\ 

(Conducted  by  the  CHAMBERLAIN^  who  crosses  to 
them,  they  withdraw.)  \* 

CALIPH.  (To  the  dancers  and  musicians .)  As  for  ye, 
O  damsels,  this  hour  I  grant  you  freedom  and  a 
purse  often  thousand  dirhanis  to  each  of  you.  (To 

an  attendant.)     Conduct  them  in  all  honour  from 

i         -i  _ 

f^^^* 

(The  ATTENDANT  leads  'the  MAIDENS  off  by  f  C*  J 
the  terrace,  the  Alman following  them  with  a  ^~*^ 
final  appealing  gesture  to  the  CALIPH.,) 

ABU  BAKR.  (Kneeling  before  the  CALIPH.,)  O  King  of 
the  Earth,  may  thy  tutor  speak  to  his  charge  of 
many  years  ? 

CALIPH.     Speak,  O  my  father. 

ABU  BAKR.  Of  a  truth,  thou  committest  a  wrong,  O 
my  lord,  in  despising  thus  hourly  the  gifts  of  fair 
women.  Hath  Allah  not  created  thee  a  man  in  thy 
manhood  ? 

CALIPH.     Seest  thou  this  rose?    Tis  holier  to  me 


KISMET  85 

than  the  red  rose  of  the  Prophet  !  Now  by  its 
holiness  do  I  swear  to  thee,  to-night  shall  put  an  end 
to  my  singleness. 

ABU  BAKR.     Thou  hast  found  what  thou  seekest  ? 

CALIPH.  The  while  thou  didst  ponder  over  the 
revenues  of  the  kingdom,  I  took  my  pleasure  in  thy 
garden.  And  lo  !  The  Bestower  sent  what  I 
prayed  for  —  a  sweet  maid  of  a  thousand  wonders. 
After  sundown  I  will  ride  forth  to  bring  her  home 
in  full  pomp,  as  she  were  a  princess  from  a  kingdom 
afar. 

ABU  BAKR.  And  who  might  this  Chosen  of  the 
chosen  be,  O  my  lord  ? 

CALIPH.      Who?      (Smelling    of    the    rose.)      The  /*' 

partner   of  my  dreams,  the  half  of  my  heart,  my  *t£~ 
first  love  and  my  last.     (He  takes  a  golden  bead  and"* 
throws  it  into  a  Clip   on   the  table:  it  rings   like  a 
gong.) 


CALIPH.     Let  the  diwan  begin  ! 

(The  HERALD    bows^   and  goes    out  onto    the 
terrace  again.) 

BAKR  moves  to  the  left  of  the  throne,  and 
s  on  the  golden  cushion.)        ^wtv****    ^*» 

HERALD.     (Slows  his  trumpet,  then  speaks.)    Whoso 

I      hath  authority,  let  him  come  to  the  Caliph's  Carpet 
of  Justice!  ' 

(SLAVES 


.throne!)  L 

(Stately  music  begins.) 

(The  CHAMBERLAIN  enters  with  a  volume  oftM(\N 
law  which  he  brings   to  the  throne,  he  then  " 
retires   below  the  throne  to   the  furthest  left 
corner,  behind  ABU  BAKR.) 


^ 


r\  ( 


86  KISMET 

(After  him  follow  Six    DIGNITARIES  of  the 
Household,  who  bow  to  the  CALIPH,  and  seat[ 
themselves  near  the  columns  leading  to  th 
terrace.) 

(Crowds  gather  outside  on  the  terrace  behind 
the  arches.) 

enter,  majeing  their 
ng  to 

(finally  MANSUR  arrives,  followed  by  KAFUR 
and  AFIFE.  MANSUR  crosses  and  bows  to 
the  CALIPH,  remaining  before  the  throne.) 

(FOUR  NEGRO  ARCHERS  follow  and  place  them- 
selves between  the  columns  at  the  back,  drawing 
their  scymitars  and  so  forming  a  barrier  to 
keep  the  crowd  from  entering  the  hall.) 

(The  music  ceases) 

(The  CALIPH  signs  and  all  the  WAZIRS  sit) 

MANSUR.  O  Commander  of  the  Faithful  !  Would 
heaven  thou  hadst  not  wearied  thyself  by  honouring 
thy  slave  with  a  letter.  The  accountings  of  my 
treasuries  are  ready  and  in  full  tale.  They  shall  be 
at  thy  feet  to-morrow  before  noon-prayer. 

CALIPH.     It  is  well.     .     , 

(MANSUR  bows  and  goes  to  his'seat  right,  in  front 
of  the  other  WAZIRS).  *^ 

(There  is  a  murmur  of  conversation  among  the  WAZIRS.) 

(  The  CALIPH  throws  the  bead  into  the  cup  a 
second  time) 

HERALD.  (Blows  his  trumpet  again)  Whoso  hath 
grievance,  let  him  come  to  the  Caliph's  Carpet  of 
Justice  ! 

CHAMBERLAIN.  (At  the  foot  of  the  throne,  left,  stepping 
forward  and  utirolling  a  roll.)  In  the  name  of  the 
Judge  of  Judges,  peace  and  silence.  (The  crowd 


/I   KlSMm  87 

vy 

ceases  murmuring.)      The   first   case :   Jawan   the 
highwayman.     By  command  of  the  Wazir  Mansur. 

MANSUR.  (Rising.)  O  Gracious  Sovereign  !  The 
mighty  Monarch  that  forewent  thee,  did  banish  all 
robbers  from  Baghdad  both  by  writ  and  proclama- 
tion. ^.Yet  this  one  is  come  to  flaunt  it  in  the  white 
sunlight  as  though  the  word  of  our  beloved  lord  had 
been  vain  as  a  rain-shower  in  the  sea.  Hence 
ordered  I  the  outlaw  before  thee. 

(JAWAN   approaches  from    the  Jmatup,    right, 
supported  by  Two  ARCHERS.) 

CALIPH.     Canst  thou  not  walk  without  aid  ? 

JAWAN.  (Kneeling  and  bowing.)  O  Commander  of 
the  Faithful,  Allah  hath  smitten  my  limbs  with  a 
curse.  Thou  seest  my  hours  are  numbered.  I 
came  not  to  Baghdad  with  evil  intent.  I  came  to 
pray  for  salvation  at  the  tombs  of  the  saints,  hoping 
that  my  gift  of  alms  would  somewhat  wipe  out 
mine  offending. 

CALIPH.     Thou  hast  given  money  to  the  poor  ? 

JAWAN.  Send  to  the  high  priest  of  the  cathedral- 
mosque.  I  seek  refuge  in  him  and  his  knowledge 
of  my  charities. 

CALIPH.  By  all  the  laws  of  the  realm  thy  life  is 
forfeit.  Yet  'tis  written  "  Better  a  generous  sinner 
than  a  stingy  saint."  Go  one  of  you  to  the  high 
priest.  (To  one  of  the  KAZIS.)  Kazi-Shiniaflftfaoti. 
Inquire  into  this.  (To  JAWAN.)  Aa-thou-sayeat 

,  i  i        i  -\/  f*  a  ^^•^•^••""*>^' 

-sooth,  repeatance- 
kerchief  of  pardon. 

(One  of  the  WAZIRS/ rises,  bows,  and  goes  off 
through  the  arch  right.) 


•Thj 


'  day  1 
CALIPH. 

thou  shalt  to  prison. 
JAWAN.     Prison  ? 


out.     Till  word  be  brought, 


88  KISMET 

CALIPH.     A  short  penance  for  thy  long  list  of  sins. 

Take  him  away. 
JAWAN.     Allah  preserve  and  prosper  His  regent  on 

earth  !     (JAWAN  bows  to  the  CALIPH  and  is  led  off 

into  the  prison-tower, y~~^+ 
CALIPH.     What  is  there  to  follow  ? 
CHAMBERLAIN.     (Consulting  his  list.)     The  case  of 

a   Moorish  juggler.      By  command  of  the  Wazir 

Mansur. 
MANSUR.    (Rising.)   O  Prince  of  True  Believers.    This 

Moorman  is  a  most  marvellous  wizard.     Yet  by  his 

very  excellence  has  he  roused  the  jealousy  of  our 

native  fellows  of  his  craft,  who  would  drive  him  out 

of  the  city.     Hence  doth  he  come  to  kneel  to  thee 

for  protection. 
CALIPH.     Baghdad  never  yet  grudged  hospitality  to 

the  stranger  of  worth.     Bring  hither  the  Moor. 
CHAMBERLAIN.     The  Moor ! 


(An  ATTENDANT  echoes  the  Vhamberlaiifs  call 
and  voices  are  heard  without  repeating  :  "  The 
Moor!  The  Moor /") 

(HAJJ  enters  from  the  right  through  the  columns. 
On  his  shoulders  like  a  pair  of  scales,  he 
balances  a  pole,  the  two  bird  cages  at  either 
end, — his  magic  cloth  in  his  hand.) 

HAJJ.  (Coming  forward  and  kneeling.)  O  Light  of 
Islam — here  lies  thy  slave  between  thy  hands  ! 

CALIPH.     Art  thou  this  famous  Moorish  magician  ? 

HAJJ.  O  King,  I  am  as  famous  ^as  I  am  Moorish,  as 
Moorish  as  I  am  magician\v**  Ojy —***'* 

CALIPH.  An  thou  prove  thy  repute,  thou  shalt  remain 
unmolested  within  our  walls. 

HAJJ.     Try  me  and  be  thy  judgment  my  doom. 

CALIPH.     Allah  granteth  thee  this.     Begin. 

(HAJJ  bows  to  the  CALIPH,  slips  off  his  cloak 
and  waves  his  magic  cloth  in  a  circle) 


KISMET  89 

HAJJ.  Round  is  the  sky  ! 

Round  is  the  eye  ! 
Round  is  nought ! 
Round  is  wrought ! 

(Throwing     the     cloth     over     his     shoulder 
mysteriously.) 

By  Iblis  curst ; 
By  devils  worst ; 
By  every  name  : —   ? 
Flame,  fire,  flame !   ;X 

(He  produces  a  bowl  of  flaming  fire  from  his 
cloth.) 

CALIPH.  (Coming  down  the  steps  a  little)  Allah! 
Good. 

(HAJJ  sets  the  bowl  on  the  floor.) 

i  j 

(The  CROWD  murmurs  approval)     \ 

HAJJ.  ^Pointing  to  the  bird-cages)  O  King  of  glorious 
degree  and  never  ending  !  Look  thou  next  on 
these  two  cages;  one  harbouring  a  fair  bird  of 
maiden  whiteness ;  the  other  a  bird  black  as  the 
royal  banner  of  thy  house.  Now  even  as  yon 
flame  of  fire,  so  doth  the  flame  of  longing  scorch 
the  hearts  of  these  hapless  lovers,  caged  apart.  Say 
me  then,  shall  I  invoke  a  kindlier  lot  upon  the 
two,  bringing  them  breast  to  breast  ? 

CALIPH.  (  Who  during  the  speech  has  come  down  from 
his  throne  ;  eagerly)  Is't  easily  done  ? 

HAJJ.  Most  easily.  (He  waves  his  magic  cloth  with 
his  left  hand  and  quickly  draws  his  dagger  with  his 
Bright)  As  easily,  O  my  lord,  as  this !  (He  gives 
the  CALIPH  a  violent  thrust.) 

CALIPH.  (Sinking  backwards  on  the  steps  of  the 
throne?)  Awah ! 

ABU   BAKR.     (Throwing  himself  between   HAJJ   and 


V^ 

• 


' 


90  KISMET 

the  CALIPH.)     O  villain  !     O  hound  !    Seize  him ! 
Pinion  him  ! 

(HAJJ  is  surrounded  in  an  instant  by  the  GUARD. 
Indescribable  confusion  ensues.  The  WAZIRS 
start  from  their  seats.  The  crowd  breaks 
through  the  guards.  All  shout  and  try  to  get 
at  HAJJ.  Cries  such  as  these  are  heard: 
"  Tear  out  his  eyes  ! "  "  Rip  out  his  heart ! " 
"  O  son  of  Satan  ! "  "  Crucify  him  over  the 
city  gate  ! "  "  Scorch  his  eyes  to  blindness  ! " 
"  Chop  off  his  accursed  fingers  ! "  "  Cut  out 
his  tongue  !"  "  Into  the  flames  with  him  !" 
"  O  dog  ! "  "  O  hell  hound  ! "  "  O  son  of 
perdition ! "  "  Down  with  him !"  "  Down ! ") 

ABU  BAKR.     (Bending  over  the  CALIPH.)    How  is't 

with  thee  ? 
CALIPH.     (Recovering  himself  and  mounting  the  throne?) 

Silence  ]     Silence !     (He  throws   the  bead  into  the 

CALIPH.  Silence!  (Comparative silenced)  Touch  not 
the  man.  Touch  him  not,  I  say. — I  am  safe ! 
Allah  hath  shielded  me  by  the  grace  of  my  coat  of 
mail.  (He  displays  it.) 

(Gradually  absolute  silence  is  restored.) 

MANSUR.     (With  unction.)     Praise    Eternal    to    the 

Preserver  of  our  King. 
ALL.     "  Praise   to  the  Preserver  ! "     "  Amin  ! "     "A 

thousand  years  to  the  Caliph  ! "     "  Life  forever-te 


(The  cup    is   struck   again.     All  regain    their 
respective  places .) 

(HAJJ  is  brought  forward,  held  by  FOUR  BLACK 
ARCHERS.  His  whok  appearance  is  dishevelled.  f 
He  looks  deathly  pale.) 

( Outside  the  day  begins  to  wane, 


A" 


KISMET  91 


CALIPH.     Why  didst  thou  this  ? 


^- 

/ALL. 
( 
^> 


6  £     HAJJ.     (After  a  moment)     I  know  not.     The  crime 
was  foredoomed  me  by  Fate.    {'   ** 

CALIPH.  Before  the  whole  world,  in  the  place  of 
places,  in  front  of  my  palace,  there  shall  thy  soul  be 
stripped  from  thee,  shred  by  shred.  Into  the 
Prison  of  Wrath  with  himr£  '/^  &£  I 

HAJJ.  Nay,  hear  me!  Hear  me!  I  was  tempted 
beyond  measure. 

CALIPH.     How's  this  ?    Who  tempted  thee  ? 

HAJJ.     I  have  sworn  silence. 

CALIPH.  By  my  holy  office  of  Imam,  I  absolve  thee 
of  thine  oath.  Speak. 

HAJJ.     (Half  looking  round  at  MANSUR.)     I  —  cannot. 
*  f    CALIPH.     The  key  of  torture  shall  soon  unlock  thy 
lips. 

HAJJ.     Torture  !     Nay,  by  the  Pardoner,  since  thou 
dost   absolve  me,  there  sits  he  who  tempted  me  ! 
Wazir  Mansur.^**^ 

{In  amazement?)    "  Mansur  ?  "    "  The  Wazir  ?  " 
"  He  ?  "     "  What  says  he  ?  " 

CALIPH.     Mansur  ? 

MANSUR.  (Rises,  glibly.)  The  man's  be-devilled,  O 
my  lord.  Bewitched  by  fiends.  I  know  him  not. 

HAJJ.  Know  me  not  ?  I  have  shared  my  salt  with 
him.  He  swore  to  make  my  daughter  his  bride, 
would  I  but  end  thy  days.  Kafur,  Afife  !  Bear  ye 
witness  ! 

CALIPH.  (  With  surprise  to  MANSUR.)  How's  this  ? 
He  calls  thy  men  by  name  ? 

MANSUR.  What  of  that?  Mayhap  the  villain  has 
frequented  my  halls  in  search  of  some  favour.  Nay, 
now  I  look  on  him  —  true.  I've  done  the  dog  a  kind- 
ness. He  came  indeed  to  offer  me  his  daughter, 
and  I  accepted  of  her.  Yet  not  for  myself,  O  King, 
but  to  serve  my  scavenger  blackamoors. 

HAJJ.  (  With  a  cry  of  horror,  trying  to  throw  himself 
on  MANSUR.)  Ah  i 


. 
/ 


92  KISMET 

(The  ARCHERS  restrain  him,  he  struggles  madly?, 
CALIPH.     (Calling  out  at  once?)     Silence  him  ! 

( One  of  the  Archers  from  behind  slips  a  black 
cloth  over  HAJJ'S  mouth?) 

(The  sky  is  lighted  with  the  blaze  of  sunset?) 

MANSUR.  Yet  though  the  drab  be  now  in  my  harim, 
by  the  Koran  I  swear,  O  King,  even  as  this  day 
ends  red  so  shall  she  end  red  this  day. 

CALIPH.  This  matter  is  too  full  for  the  crowded 
course  of  the  Diwan.  I  shall  examine  into  it 
apart — after  sundown.  No  !  (He  takes  up  the  rose 
half  unconsciously?)  Not  after  sundown.  To- 
morrow. (With  a  significant  look?)  O  Mansur, 
fail  thou  me  not.  Thy  words -do  far  from  hush  my 
doubts  in  thee. 

MANSUR.     Hearkening  and  obedience. 

CALIPH.  Tshall  sit  in  my  scarlet  of  anger.  Let  the 
executioner  be  notified.  Off  with  the  wretch.  Not 
a  crust,  not  a  drop  to  him.  No  hospitality  shall 
bind  us.  He  shall  be  made  a  warning  to  all,  the 
blackest  death  in  Islam  !  Away  ! 

A      *  (HAJJ  is  dragged  off  through  the  prison-door, 

'   *  impotent  and  bound. 

(A  general  murmur  among  the  crowd'.) 

(%he  CALIPH  puts  down  the  rose  and  throws  the 
*  into  the  cup.\ 

\  (Silety 

CALIPH.    V\\iat  case  ^ave  we'  to  com 


CHAMBERLAIN     (Taking  up  the  list.)    The  case 
Kabirah,  thA  widow.  \ 

(The  lithe  old  womem  of  the  Bazaar  appedrs  afyd 
totters  forward^  Kneeling  before  ^the  throne?) 

[CURTAIN] 


KISMET 

SCENE  IV.     The  Prison  of  the  Palace. 

The  place  is  dark  except  for  a  small  barred  window 
the  right  wall,  high  up.  Through  this  come  the 
red  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  which  fall  on  the  wall, 
left — a  brilliant  patch  creeping  slowly  higher  at, 
higher. 

Under  the  window  in  the  shadow  lies  JAWAN,  the 
highwayman,  an  unrecognisable  heap. 

A  moment  of  silence.  Then  the  door  is  unlocked  and 
unbolted  and  creaking  loudly,  to  the  rattle  ff  keys, 
it  admits  KUTAYT,  the  Gaoler,  a  huge,  dark-skinned 
man  of  bmte  force.  He  piishes  open  the  door, 
and  crosses  to  some  chains  fixed  to  an  angle  that 
juts  out,  left,  under  the  patch  of  sunlight. 

Outside  is  heard  the  shuffle  of  feet  and  blows.  HAJJ 
appears  directly,  pushed  and  driven  by  the  FOUR 
BLACK  ARCHERS.  His  motith  is  still  covered  with 
the  black  bandage.  The  ARCHERS  drag  him  to  the 
wall,  left,  where  KUTAYT  stands  ready  to  clap  the 
chains  on  his  wrists. 

KUTAYT.  (Turning  HAJJ  round.)  What  outlandish 
garments  have  we  here?  Not  Arabian.  How? 
(HAJJ  gives  a  muffled  reply.)  (KUTAYT  pulling  the 
bandage  from  his  mouth.)  How  ? 

HAJJ.     (Breathless.)     Moorish,  O  my  master. 

KUTAYT.  Moorish!  Hool  Hool  Wilt  thou  buy 
straw  from  me  ? 

HAJJ.     I  have  no  money. 

KUTAYT.     No  money  ? 

HAJJ.     Not  a  danik. 

KUTAYT.  {Shouting.)  Nothing  ?  Shall  I  waste  my 
breath  sucking  of  an  empty  bottle  ?  Here  with  thy 
paws,  O  misery  !  {He  claps  the  chains  on  HAJJ.) 
YebJa,  what  a  life  is  mine,  crushing  lice !  (He 
throws  HAJJ  down  on  the  ground)  Lie  there,  thou 


it    A  ^ 


94  KISMET 

vermin.  Moorish  !  (He  spits  on  HAJJ,  then  follows 
the  others  banging  the  door  to  behind  him,  bolting 
and  locking  it  from  without.} 

(A  moment  of  silence.") 

HAJJ.  (Groaning.')  There  is  no  majesty  nor  might 
save  Allah  !  Is  it  this  I  have  come  to  ?  (Rattling 
the  chains,  he  sinks  down  beating  palm  on  palm  in 
despair^)  O  thou  purse  !  Thou  little  purse  flung 
me  at  sunrise  !  Thou  hast  been  mine  undoing ! 
Thou  wast  from  Satan  !  From  him,  mine  enemy. 
O  Jawan  !  Jawan !  As  Allah  is  my  witness,  may 
thy  soul  be  cast  down  into  the  fires  of  hell  to  burn 
and  boil  to  infinity  without  end.  0  (UuvA*4*r-  ^  9 

(Out  of  the  gloom  of  the  opposite  wall  comes 
JAWAN'S  sharp  voice,  half  mockingly.') 

JAWAN.     Who  calls  me  ?     Can  it  be  thou,  O  Hajj  ? 
HAJJ.     (Amazed.)    Allah!     (He  sits  up?)     Art  thou 
^^      an  Ifrit  speaking? 

ff  JAWAN.     No  Ifrit,  O  brother.     No  spirit  of  air  or  fire. 
|  L         But  thy  flesh-and-bones   enemy,  whom  thou  dost 
I      y      curse  so  sweetly. 
^     HAJJ.     Jawan — thyself — here  ? 

'  JAWAN.     Even  as  thou,  O  my  friend  of  long  ago. 
S   HAJJ.     (He  laughs.')     Ha  !  Ha  !     By  Allah  !     Thou 
here !     And   through   me  !     For  'twas  I  who  told 
Mansur  of  thee !     My   prayer  is  answered.      We 
shall  end  side  by  side.     'Tis  well.     I  die  content. 
JAWAN.     Why  art  thou  here  ? 
HAJJ.     For  attempting  the  Caliph's  days. 
JAWAN.     The    Caliph's?     Thou?     Then  art   thou 

indeed  dead. 
HAJJ.     Even^as  thou  art. 

JAWAN.     Nay,  I  shall  be  free.     I  tell  thee  I  shall  live, 
live  to  see  my  son.     YulrirL    As  clearly  as  I  see 


him  now  with  the  eyes  of  th 
I  saw  him  last  with  the  eyes 


heart.     As  clearly  as 
of  the  head.     (In  an 


KISMET 

r 

exalted  strain?)  There  he  stood,  my  Yusu£  in  the 
wold  and  wild,  by  my  tent,  the  dust-cloutl  of  the 
coming  foe  walling  the  horizon.  I  made  him  kneel 
fefore  me  and  blessed  and  kissed  him.  /  And  as  I 
did  so  an  amulet  hung  forth  from  my  breast.  I 
broke  it  in  half — a  hand  of  Fatimah.  /  (He  taps  his 
chest?)  Half  I  kept  for  myself,  heret  The  other  I 
fixed  on  the  chain  round  his  neck./  By  that  broken 
half  shall  I  find  him  again.  I  know  it. 

HAJJ.  v  (Laughing  derisively.}  Ha  !  Ha !  After 
twenty-five  years  ?  Thou  art  in  thy  dotage. 

JAWAN.     Allah  will  give  him  back  to  me.     I  have  Cu&1  ****^i* 
•irvle     gone  to  Mecca   thrice.      All   my  moneys  have  I 
spent  in  charity. 

HAJJ.  Charity?  Will  charity  quicken  my  little  son, 
whom  thou  didst  slaughter  ?  Charity  restore  the 
wife  thou  didst  rob  me  of?  I  tell  thee  thou  shalt 
surely  die  to-morrow.  Thy  blood  and  mine  shall 
mingle  together  on  the  thirsty  ground.  That  is  my 
sole  consolation,  the  honey  in  this  my  bitterness. 

(The  lock  is  heard  to  turn  and  the  door  is 
unbolted.  KUTAYT  reappears  with  a  docu- 
ment in  his  hand?) 

(The  sunlight  begins  to  fade.") 

K.UTAYT.  (Going  to  JAWAN,  holding  out  the  document.} 
The  Commander  of  the  Faithful  has  lent  ear  to  the 
pleadings  of  the  High  Priest.  Thou  art  pardoned 
and  released. 

^— JAWAN.     Allah  prolong  the  Caliph's  days  of  Glory  ! 
-  KUTAYT.     Canst  thou  climb  the  stairs  unaided? 

JAWAN.     Where  are  my  slaves  ? 
'^}     KUTAYT.     Thy  slaves  ?    -ASjHPlWhen  they  saw  thee 

prisoner  they  turned ^wtTfled!    VfjutSW/A 
JAWAN.     Wiroi  e'jan  "Knaves  !     How   shall   I  get  me 
from   here?     (Chinking  a  purse?)     This  purse  of 
fifty  dinars,  an  thou  canst  find  me  a  litter. 
{*}     KUTAYT.     (Obsequiously.)     O   my   lord,   there   is  a 


<J 


96  KISMET 

stretcher  above  to  carry  away  the  dead.     Will  that 

suffice  thy  graciousness  ? 
JAWAN.     Anything,  so  I  need  no  longer  weary  thine 

hospitality.     He  !  He  !  He  ! 
KUTAYT.     (Laughing  politely. \    Hoo,  Hoo  !    Hearing 

is  obeying.    |  +4s*  «*^  C  J 
HAJJ.     (Eagerly.)      Am   I   pardoned   too?     Am   I 

free? 
KUTAYT.     Ho<?f  ""HWf!     Pardoned?      Free?      Wait 

till   thy  tongue's  torn  out,  thine  eyes  scorched  to 

blindness,  thy  body  nailed  to  the  dome  over  the 

Gate  of  Destructipn.      Then  wilt  thou  be  free — 

indeed — at  last !     Hoo  !  Hoo  ! 
HAJJ.     (Tiigging  at  his  chains.)     Allah  damn  thee  for 

thy  mocking  !     Jjjif   yVM/WVC 
KTTTAYT.     Hoo?    Curse  me,  O  thou?     That  for  thee, 

lho«  offal  i  -thotr -steach.     (He  strikes  HAJJ  over  the 

ntad  with  the  huge  door-key.    HAJ.I  with  a  cry  totters ; 

then  sinks  on  his  knees  and  faints . )    How  ?    Fainted  ? 

Hoo!  Hoo! 

Kme=watcr  aiitf  ftmies  anil  amOeigiis !     Fainted ! /***CT 

(Turning  and  bowing  obsequiously  to  JAWAN.)    O  my 

lord,  thy  litter  shall  be  with  thee  on  the  instant. 

(He  goes   off  and  slams  the  door,   bolts   and 
locks  it.) 

(Silence.) 

HAJJ.  (After  some  groans,  slowly  returning  to  con- 
sciousness, in  the  whining  tone  of  the  beggar,  not 
realising  where  he  is.)  Alms  for  the  love  of  Allah  ! 

For  the  love  of (He  awakes  slowly  to  his 

surroundings ;  with  a  cry  of  horror.)  Ah !  I  am 
here !  I  am  here.  'Tis  over — is  it  ?  Is  it  over  ? 

JAWAN.     He  !  He  !  He  !    'Tis  not  yet  begun. 

HAJJ.     'Tis  not?     (Coming  to  the  full  realisation  of 

things.)  \  Thou  !      Now   I   know.     Thou  !      Oh  ! 

Tgc-nun  jo  r fining  1     rVniil  I .  Red  !     (  U 'ith  a  sudden 

try.)      Mansurf  —  Thou    fiend    of    lowest    hell ! 


KISMET 


shall 
Mar 


"  Even  as  the  day  ends 

this  day  !  "    O  Marsi 

prison — in  chains 
^ATWTO.     HeMjfrfHe! 
H&JJ.      L^ugK!      Thou^nst    laughj^xfhou    the 

begiujjffmg — thou  th&tnd  of  my  sufferings  !    ( Tugging 

arthe  chains?)    O  Allah  !    Give  me  strength.    Make 

these  strong  arms  doubly,  trebly  strong !     Put 

the  power  of  a  lifetime  into  these  sinews ;  only  for 

once,  O  Allah,  that  I  may  snap  these  maddening 

chains  in  twain ! 
JAWAN.      Never !      Never !      (He  laughs  j'eeringly.) 

He  !  He  !  He  ! 
HAJJ.     Once  !     Only  once  !     (He  tugs,  he  twists,  then 

with  a  wild  cry  of  delight  he  has  broken  himself  free.) 

Free  !     Free  !     TTin  firrantflr  hnfh  Hr^njg^  •     "^  -"".. 
JAWAN.     ( With  terror — breathless^J^nK— — 
HAJJ.     (Sitting  up,peryajti4tty?)K\.  last ! 
JAWAN.    (Tremb&Mg?jYf\&.\. — what  art  thou  thinking  ? 
HAJJ.     (Rises.)     What — what?     (He  crouches  slightly 

and  slowly,  step  by  step,  like  a  wild  beast,  creeps  over 

to  JAWAN'S  corner.) 

JAWAN.     No  nearer !     I  have  a  knife. 
-  HAJJ.     A  knife — hast  thou  ? 
JAWAN.     'T  has  served  me  a  thousand  times.    Luck's 

written  on  the  blade. 
HAJJ.     Luck?      I   take   my   luck.      (With  a  cry) 

Allah  is  all  great !     (He  springs  into  the  dark  at 

JAWAN.) 

(A  fierce  struggle  as  of  two  panthers  fighting. 
Groans,  hisses,  heavings  and  cries.  After  a 
minute — silence.  Then  HAJJ  emerges  from  the 
dark) 

HAJJ.  (Breathless  and  fervently?)  O  Allah  mine, 
thou  hast  given  me  this  hour.  Behold  my  sacrifice 
to  thee.  At  last,  at  last,  I  am  avenged  !  Avenged  ! 
(Laughing  bitterly.)  But  my  Marsinah  ! — Oh  spare 


98  KISMET 

her,  O  Lord  of  justice,  spare  her  from  Mansur  and 
the  horror  of  his  harim.     (A  thought  striking  him.) 
The  harim  !     Kut-al-Kulub  !     The  Wife  of  wives  ! 
Even  now  she  is  waiting  for  me  !     If  I  could  reach 
her !     She'd  help  me  to  save  Marsinah !     She'd — 
(He  goes   to   the  door  pounding  on   it  desperately.) 
Free  !     Free  !     Free ! — (He  stops  and  turns  hope- 
lessly.)    Madness !     (Looking   at    JAWAN'S    body.) 
They'll  find  him  the  moment  the  litter  comes,  and 
then — ( With    sudden    inspiration.)       The    litter  ! 
Allah !     Dost  Thou   open    the    door  of  escape  ? 
Dost   Thou?    (Wildly.)    Ha!    Ha!    Ha!     If  it 
succeed  !     If  it  succeed !     (He  goes  into  the  corner  to  ^ 
the  body.)     The  cloak  !     The  turband  !     The  purse ! 
In  his  sleeve, — his  breast  ?    (He  comes  across  the 
chain  on  his  breast.)     The  chain  !    The  broken  hand 
of  Fatimah !     (Imitating  JAWAN.)     "  I  shall  see  my 
son  again  !     I  shall  find  him  ! "     Wilt  thou  ?    (He 
takes  off  the  chain.)     Wilt  thou  ?     (Putting  it  over 
his  own  neck.)     Hang  thou  here  on  my  neck  now 
thou  broken  hand  of  Fatimah !     I  shall  find  him,  so 
Allah  will  it.     I  shall !     Ha  !     (He  finds  the  purse 
and  chinks  it.)     Fifty   dinars !     For    the    gaoler ! 
Good  !     Now  off  with  thy  cloak.     What  ?  (He  stops 
and  listens.)     Nothing.     Nothing.     Keep  thine  eyes 
cool  and  clear,   O   Hajj.     Cool   and   clear.     (He 
returns  to  the  body.)     So  !     So !     Thou  shalt  play 
the  Moorman  now,  O  my  king.     Dead.     Ha  !     Ha  ! 
Thou  art  dead,  dost  thou  hear  ?    And  yet,  O  dead 
one,  'tis  thou  shalt  draw  me  out  of  my  grave — me 
thy  slayer  !     (He  drags  the  body  to  where  he  lay  t.  - 
fainting  when  the  gaoler  went  out  and  covers  it  with 
his    own    cloak.)     So !     Lie   thou   there !     Quiet ! 
Budge  not,  I  pray  thee.      Faint !     (He  turns    to 
JAWAN'S   cloak  and  turband.)     Now  for  mine  own 
beautifying  !     (As  he  picks  up  the  garments  he  sees  the 
knife    which    he    discarded.)    The    knife !     Luck's 
written  on  the  blade.     (  He  puts  the  knife  into  his 


KISMET  99 

belt?)  Luck  !  So  be  it.  Luck  shall  carry  me  into 
the-  street.  Luck  let  me  leap  from  the 
Luck  bring  me  to  the  harim  and  to  theey't)  my 
Marsinah,  O  my ( The  door  outside  is  unlocked.) 

(HAJJ  throwing  the  cloak  over  himself,  hurries 
into  JAWAN'S  dark  corner  and  lies  down 
KUTAYT  reappears  with  a  Ian f horn,  follower 
by  two  men  with  a  rough  stretcher?) 

KUTAYT.     The  stretcher,  O  my  lord. 

HAJJ.  (Coughing  and  imitating  JAWAN'S  voice?)  Here! 
(He  throws  the  purse?) 

KUTAYT.  (Picking  it  up  and  examining  it  by  the  light 
of  the  lanthorn.)  Allah  bless  thy  journey.  (To  the 
men  as  they  lift  up  HAJJ.)  Carefully.  Lift  the 
Sheikh  of  sheikhs  carefully.  (He  chinks  the  purse  and 
turns  to  the  dead  body?)  How  ?  Still  fainted !  Hoo  ! 
Hoo  !  Look,  O  my  lord — (He  goes  to  the  body  and 
raises  up  an  arm.)  Still  fainted  ! 

HAJJ.  (As  the  litter  is  lifted  up  and  carried  out, 
imitating]  AM  AX'S  laugh.)  He!  He!  He!  (He  is 
carried  through  the  door?) 

t&4«r>m.)    Rose^rsrter !    (Kicking 


the  body.)     Rose  water  !     Hoo  !     Hoo  ! 
HAJJ.    (From  the  staircase,  without?}   He  !   He  !   He  ! 

(KUTAYT  turns  slowly  and  follows  the  litter, 
slamming  the  door  behind  him.) 

[CURTAIN] 
End  of  Act  n 


ACT    III 


102      BEFORE    THE    CURTAIN 

NIGHT 
T^MAN  enters  from  his  house,  seats  himself  and  sings  : 

Lo  !  Now  the  night  lies  on  the  city's  breast, 
And  thousand  thousand  lovers  rise  from  rest 
To  seek  in  truth,  what  day  unveiled  in  dream: — 
The  one,  the  all,  the  maiden  manifest. 

The  WOMAN    enters  from    her   house,   seats  herself 

and  sings  : 

Lo  !  Now  the  heav'n  pours  down  its  silver  stream 
Into  the  lattice  of  my  heart's  harim  ! 
The  hour  comes,  the  night  of  nights  is  nigh, 
That  bindeth  soul  to  soul  in  bond  surpreme. 

r^MAN 

Yehh  !  That  some  flaming  dance  might  glorify 
The  moments  of  my  sweet  expectancy  1 

The  WOMAN 

Yehh  !  That  some  liquid  Almah's  ebb  and  flow 
The  ocean  of  my  love  might  amplify  I 

BOTH 

O  Thou,  Bestower  of  all  things,  bestow 
This  benediction  on  Thy  servants  low  ! 

The  DANCER  enters  and  weaves  the  spell  of  Destiny 
about  the  MAN  and  the  WOMAN.  They  rise  and 
approach  each  other  singing  : 

The  day  belongs  to  man,  to  woman  night: — 
And  so  I  give  to  thee  thy  lawful  right,    ) 
And  so  I  claim  in  thee  my  lawful  right.  J 
Sealing  our  compact  of  eternal  plight, 
O  thou,  my  longing,  and  my  soul's  delight ! 

The  DANCER  smiles  in  triumph  and  -Danishes. 

The  MAN  and  the  WOMAN  embrace  and  go  out  hand  in 
hand  through  the  Curtains  of  fate. 

'  '    t    **"' 
- 


KISMET  103 


ACT 


EVENING 


SCENE  I.      The  Hammam    in    the  Wazir  Mansur's 
Harim. 

The  scene  represents  a  colonnaded  courtyard,  the  centre  of 
which  is  occupied  by  a  large,  marble  swimming 
pool.  The  front  part  of  the  scene  is  under  the 
portico  of  the  colonnade.  At  the  back  may  be  seen 
three  large  arched  windows  screened  from  the  outer 
world  by  elaborate  traceries.  The  main  entrance  is 
an  arch  or  double  door,  left.  A  grated  trap  to  the 
right,  partly  concealed  by  a  rug,  leads  to  a  secret 
passage  below.  There  is  a  couch  to  the  left ;  behind 
it  stands  a  brazier  of  burning  incense. 

The  court  is  of  the  most  delicate  architecture ;  white 
marble  with  green  and  azure  traceries. 

It  is  early  evening ;  the  moonlight  floods  the  courtyard 
from  the  right,  and  finds  its  way  into  the  portico, 
from  the  ceiling  of  which  hang  several  lamps, 
shedding  dim  light. 

Kux-AL-KuLUB,  in  gorgeous  robes,  lies  reclining  on  the 

couch,   a   slave  holding  up   a    mirror  before  her. 

Another  one  is  sprinkling  perfumes,  and  a  third 

blackening  her  eyelids. 
Various  grorips  of  women  are  seen  reclining  by  the  pool ; 

some  are  robing,  others  combing  their  hair. 


104  KISMET 

To  the  right  sit  FOUR  FEMALE  MUSICIANS  with  lutes, 
harps  and  tambourines. 


Jute  within  my  lap,  o'er 
Mysqbbing  child  of  love^tif^cry  to  tend 
With  mother's  breast^x^et  still  as  I  do  give 
Thy  yearmh^eroj^m  ever  without  end.     Ah  — 
O  sweetest  IpwrQmilk  of  melody  ! 
What  tjjfXfgii  my  heaJ'Sgo  forth  in  yielding  thee  ! 
Thus  would  I  die  a  thousand  deaths,  than  live 

>zen  and  barren  to  innniW*!  Ah  ! 

(^During  the\>ng  a  YouNGVGi 
tqng  garment*  enters  followed 
She  steps  to  tm^swimmingp 
take\the  cloak  jtom  her  and  she  p 
the  wbter.) 

ft 
(MiSKAH  enters  from  the  door,  ttft,  and  glides  to 

KUT-AL-KULUB'S 


Kux-AL-K.     (Turning  impatiently.}     Thy  news  !    Yet 

answer  me  nought  but  he  is  come  ;  he  is  waiting  ; 

he  has  mistook  the  secret  entrance  ! 
MISKAH.     O  my  mistress,  would   my  tongue   might 

say  yes.    Alas  !    He's  nowhere  to  be  seen.    But  thy 

slave  of  the  fires  is  watching  for  him  with  burning 

eyes. 

Kux-AL-K.    I  could  have  thee  whipped  for  thy  words. 
MISKAH.     No  stranger  hath  passed  the  door-keeper, 

nor  man  nor  woman,  saving  a  weeping  damsel  the 

eunuchs  brought  this  mid-afternoon. 
Kux-AL-K.  Damsel  ?  What  damsel  ? 
MISKAH.  She  is  destined  for  thy  lord,  they  say. 

They  are  guarding  her  in  the  first  hall  of  the  harim. 
Kux-AL-K.    What  fresh  intruder  is  this  ?    Bring  hither 

thr^hft 
MISKAH.     Hearkening  and  obedience. 

(She  hurries  off  through  the  door.} 


KISMET 


105 


\  Anotheyf     By  the  day/i 


(Zov&ing    at    herself    in    the  mirror?) 
By  the  day^f  my  beaujjn!  And  " 

trim  faj^ftjjeri 

thou  nolfclone^etl'^  Take  liwHfot 
L 


T\e  women,  near  the  pool  have  splashed  th$  girl 
in  the  wafer.  She  suddenly  turns  and  fulls 
one  of  tlitm  into  the  pool.  There  is  a  loud 
scfrtim  and  much  splashing  and  laughter?) 


-T-AL-K.    ^b^ritated,  sits  erect  on   her  couch,  claps 
her   han/s    fynd   shouts    at  the  /qp   of  her /voice?) 

noised/If  sayj! 
(Clap /her  fonds  againft   Al/h  \\  MustX  c4ll  Iflb 


guari 
on 


^^  )^TJiit 

:,  ye  sha\aelesp^>nesv!'^Get  yeTo*^our  couchesA 
and  all.   ^TKe  hour  grows  late. 

the  bath   are  seen   to  swinf 
Othj/s 

o       -jj      -  _  <p     \*j^?*^      ~ 

oppressed  laughter  and  whisperings^) 


KUT-AL-K.     (To  the  MUSICIANS!}    <Go  ye  as  well ! 

( The  MUSICIANS  rise  and  follow  the  others?}? 
(KuT-AL-K  sinks  down  on  the  couch?) 

(MISKAH   re-enters  with  the  Two   EUNUCHS, 
conducting  MARSINAH,  who  is  veiled.^  \J  ^ 

Kux-AL-K.     (71?  the  EUNUCHS.)     Leave  her  with  me. 

She   shall    be   safe   in   my  keeping.      (The   Two 

EUNUCHS  bow  and  retire?) «  What   have  we  here  ? 

(Sarcastically?)     Peace.be  upon  thee,  O  wonder -ef 

loveliness  concealed. 
MARSINAH.     And  upon  thee  peace,  O  my  lady,  and 

Allah's  benediction. 
KUT-AL-K.     (Hglf  aside  to  her  wom 

unto   choking    honey.'    (Pointedly 


; 


106  KISMET 


then  not  favour  us  by  revealing  the  fosntaii 
of  sovmuch  s^Eetness  ? 

(Sfu  leans  forward  toward  MARSINAH.) 

MARSINAH.  (Unveils  and  kneels,  bowing  low.)  O 
my  lady,  I  am  thy  slave. 

Kux-AL-K.  (Annoyed  by  MARSINAH'S  beauty.)  My 
slave,  art  thou?  My  frlovft  irnmo  not'  bifuie  mu — ' 

w*tb-oa  In  inn  cm  IhniH dj,  i/u  uiikuhkd,  diLUki, 

addled  and  raddled  witb  tears.    .lYUu-Jit    linn  T  "" 
Who  sent  thee  hither  ? 

MARSINAH.  My  father.  The  Wazir  Mansur  has 
chosen  me  to  be  his  wife. 

Kux-AL-K.  Wife— thou?  O  thou  gotten  refuaoM) 
4hmi  piolfingij.  Thou  his  wife?  A  handmaid  to 
his  wife  perchance,  or  handmaid  to  the  handmaid, 
more  likely. 

MARSINAH.  'Tis  not  of  my  seeking !  Allah  is  my 
witness !  I  longed  not  for  a  harim  of  glitter  and 
gold.  Mine  was  a  far  different  dream. 

Kux-AL-K.     (Sarcastically.)     Sayst  thou  so  ? 

MARSINAH.  O  mistress  dear,  thou  art  the  high 
lady  here,  thy  lord's  love  of  loves.  Turn  thou  thy 
white  hand  of  pleading  towards  Mansur- forme. 
Win  thou  my  freedom,  and  thou  wilt  give  life  not 
to  me  alone,  who  am  a  nought  and  a  nothing,  but 
also  to  one  who  is  waiting  and  watching  this  night, 
waiting  and  watching  in  vain. 

Kur-AL-K. 


So  thy  little  heart  is  caught  in  the  mighty  net  of 

love.      C7^"  ?-  -r~  ^ j-j-j-r-  ) 

MARSINAH.  Why  should  I  answer  no  ?  Thou  art  a 
woman.  To  thee  I  need  not  hide  what  I  dared  not 
confess  to  my  father.  YAM  I  love  a  youth,  to 
the  very  core  of  my  bosom  do  I  love  him  ;  a  youth, 
fair  of  face,  and  rich  in  grace  ; 

nobler  in  all  our  race.   — — 

L-R.     A"pi(jlby.'.vofsg,  foraoutli.  '"  Allll  SUielj 


the_ 

"  embrace.' 
her  gibe 
ARSINAH.     He  hath  kissed  me,  'tis  true. 

(  With  a  sarcastic  laugh?)     Ah 
MARSINAH.     6h,  but  in  all  honour.     This  sunset  he 
was  cpming  to  beg  my  father's  consent  to  husband 
me.  / 

Was  he!    Was  he  ! 


XMARSINAH.     By   the  Hie  of  my  youth,  he  was.     I 

/should  be  bespoken  by  now,  had  not  sudden  fate 
doomed  me  to  become  Mansur's  wife.  (***wf   *~l*oW* 
Kux-AL-K.     Wife  !    Say  thou  wife  again  and  I'll  have 
thee  slippered  till  thou  liest  fainting  at  my  feet. 
Wife  thou  !     nTlllll  111  I  n  il  •mil  iiliniji nUy  nnnthir ! 

iin-^.j-. it  u..u  ui —-nil   inlii  nij-uuuuMJ  ? 

(Calling  out?)     Ho  IM3iBft:'lli>^ai*lilii  1  BfltfiUf  f 
Cw  Take  her  away  to  the  kitchens ! 

(MARSINAH  veils,  herself?) 

(The   Two    EUNUCHS    return    and   approach 
MARSINAH,  laying  hands  on  her?) 

Kux-AL-K.  I'll  soon  "  wife  "  thee,  thou  scum  of  the 
slave  market,  thou  baggage  of  ill-omen  and 
insolent !  ', 

/•     MARSINAIJ/    O  spare  me  these  cruel  hands,  O  sweet 
ladyyiSpare  me,  spare  me  ! 

that  moment  MANSUR  enters  through  the 
courtyard  from  the  right.  He  is  sullen  and 
his  manner  shows,  though  only  slightly,  that 
he  has  been  drinking.  He  has  a  cup  in  his 
hand.  KAFUR/b//0«/.r  him.  All  the  WOMEN 
crouch  at  MANSUR'S, approach?) 

MANSUR.     Hold  !    What  to  do  is  here  ? 
KuT-AL-K.     (Rises  on  her  knees  and  turns  to  him  in 
her  most  seductive  manner?)     O   my   lord — thou  ? 


* 

f 


108  KISMET 

/*'         What  blessed  fate  brings  thee  at  this  unwonted 

hour? 

MANSUR.     (Ignoring  her.)    Who  is  yon  woman  ? 
KuT-AL-K.     A  nought !     A  slave  girl !    An  offering 

of  ugliness   some   friend  hath  sent  thee  in  sport. 

Wilt  thou  not  smile  on  thy  Kut-al-Kulub,  O  my 

king  ? 

MARSINAH.     (Crying  out.)     Ho  Mansur  ! 
KUT-AL-K.     (To  the  EUNUCHS  holding  MARSINAH.) 

To  the  kitchens  with  her  !     And  at  once  ! 
MARSINAH.     (Breaking  away  from  the  EUNUCHS,  she 

kneels  before  MANSUR,  calling  out.)     To  my  aid,  O 

my  lord ;   I   lay  hold  upon  thy  skirt,  in  this  my 

calamity. 

(The  EUNUCHS  are  about  to  seize  her  again  but 
MANSUR  stops  them  with  a  gesture?) 

MANSUR.     (Coming  to  her.)    Who  art  thou  ? 
/"  -   MARSINAH.     I  am  Marsinah,  the  daughter  of  Hajj — 
thy  cup-companion. 

MANSUR.  Hajj's  daughter,  art  thou?  (Sneeringly.') 
Now  Allah  requite  thee  that  thou  art  come  !  His 
daughter  !  Ha  !  (To  Kux-AL-K.)  And  ugly  to 
boot,  sayst  thou?  Ywfeh!  The  liar,  the  son  of 
filth  1  Juggle  this  trick  besides,  would  he  ?  'Tis 
well! 

Kux-AL-K.  (Sarcastically.)  She  swears  thou  hast 
chosen  her  thy  wife. 

MANSUR.     Doth  she  ? 

KuT-AL-K.  (Indignantly.)  And  that,  after  confessing 
she  hath  been  loved  by  another. 

BJMii)i..iH      Vi'hfr! 

MARSINAH.  (To  Kux-AL-K.)  By  Allah,  this  is  not 
allowed  !  To  betray  what  I  have  told  thee  between 
mine  eyes  and  thine. 

MANSUR.  So  she  has  been  loved,  has  she — this 
(with  a  great  sneer}  maid !  I  am  to  eat  broken  bread 
from  other  men's  tables  1  Broken  bread  1 


KISMET  109 


MARSINAH.     (i&fc*.)     'Tis  a  lie !     My  loved   one's 
£     loving  is  not  of  the  colour  of  thy  loathsome  lusting. 
'Tis  white  as  the  turband  of  the  Prophet.     Nor  can 
thy  villainous  tongue  spot  its  purity. 

MANSUR.  Ha  !  Ha  !  So  great  a  fire  in  so  small  an 
oven?  ^fchhi  He,re  will  be  a  pleasing  thing  to 
rake  and  quench.!  "p+4.<tU  fll«*  <*•'% 

MARSINAH.  (Kneeling,  gleadingj)  Oh,  as  thou  art 
powerful,  be  "mercTfuL*  Forgive  my  fury.  My  lips 
know  not  what  they  say.  Thou  seest  I  am  alone 
here,  helpless  as  the  fly  in  the  tent  of  the  spider. 
Have  thou  pity  on  me,  so  Allah  have  pity  on  thee. 

MANSUR.    And  how  can  Allah  have  pity  on  me  before 

I  yet  have  sinned  ?   Oh,  my  hidden  delight,  I  beseech 

•  thee  unveil  first,  that  I  may  learn  the  hell  I  am  to 

/I/  fall  to,  through  the  curse  of  thy  comeliness.    Unveil, 

I  tell  thee. 

MARSINAH.     Never ! 

MANSUR.  Never !  Thou'lt  not  ?  (He  flings  away 
his  wine-cup}  Thus  to  thy  likes  !  (He  goes  up  to 
her  and  seizing  her  roughly,  tears  the  veil  from  her 
face} 

MARSINAH.  Awah !  (She  bows  her  head  in  shame, 
her  long  black  hair  uncoiling  about  her} 

MANSUR.  By  the  Creator — she  is  beautiful — 
exceedingly  ! 

KUT-AL-K.     (Biting her  lips.)     Is  she?  *    ** 

MANSUR.     (Turning  to  Kux-AL-K  and  thrusting  her\  U  «•  £ 
down  on  the  couch}  O  thou  viper,  what  made  thee  say 
otherwise  ?  Jealous,  art  thou  ?  Ha  !  Ha !  Slttl !    (To 
MARSINAH — watching  Kux-AL-K.)     Thou  art  love- 
some  and  lovely,  O  my  blossom,  O  my  palm-bud. 
Thou  shalt  indeed  be  my  bride  this  eventide.     (He  Y  ****<•*••*  * 
caresses  her  head} 

MARSINAH.  (Rttmg  and  shrinking  away}  If  I  pass 
this  night  here,  I  shall  kill  myself  with  mine  own 
hand. 

MANSUR.     Trouble  not  thy  hand!  For  at  dawn,  O 


rsf 


110  KISMET 

Marsinah, (He  runs  his  hand  down  her  arm.) 

at  dawn  thou  shall  pay  for  thine  insolence  with 
gorgeous  untold  sufferings,  such  as  my  soul  never  yet 
devised. 

(He  smacks  his  lips.)     ^ 

(MARSINAH  shudders.)    X' 
(Kux-AL-K  sighs  with  satisfaction.)      *    \. ^   * 

MANSUR.     (To  Kux-AL-K.)    Thou  art  satisSea?  •' 

Kux-AL-K.     (Smiling.)    I  am  all  thine,  Onrfy  master.  *— 

MANSUR.  'Tis  well!  (To  the  slaves  ^  Up!  Robe 
my  bride  !  Hang  jewels  upon  her  !  Rob  what  is 
best  from  the  splendour  of  my  Wife  of  wives. 
(THREE  SLAVE  GIRLS  and  the  NEGRESS  hurry  off 
hastily  to  the  left.) 

Kux-AL-K.     (Furious.)     My  robes  ?  My  jewels? 

MANSUR.  (Sardonically.)  Saidst  thou  not  "  I  am  all 
thine"?  (To  MARSINAH.)  Go,  O  my  ruby  !  Seek 
thy  setting,  O  my  bride  of  blood.  (To  the  slaves.) 
And  look  you,  she  doth  no  harm  to  her  sweet  body. 

MARSINAH.  (Blanched  and  staring,  is  led  off  through 
the  courtyard;  suddenly  she  turns  defiantly)  Be  this 
the  end  that  Allah  hath  ordained  me — 'tis  well ! 
Yet  the  Judge  of  Judges  is  not  unjust.  He  hath 
power  to  change  our  fate  between  the  shutting  and 
the  opening  of  an  eye.  Thy  hour  will  come.  Thy 
death  will  find  thee  ! 

MANSUR.     ( With  a  gesture  to  the  slaves.)     Away  !  v. 

MARSINAH.  (In  a  high  voice.)  And  black  will  it  be, 
O  Mansur !  Black  as  thy  doomsday  record !  (She 
screams  as  she  is  dragged  off  by  tfie  EUNUCHS.),  £.i» 

MANSUR.  (Calling  after  her^T^Ra. !  Ha !  Ha  !  *Thy 
rage  but  feeds  me  !  Ha !  /Ha !  There's  something 
still  in  life!  Something!  By  Allah !  This  night 
will  I  make  a  night  among  nights  !  Ho  Kafur ! 
Prepare  my  bath  of  scents !  Hot  and  heating  let  it 
be  !  So  that  my  tired  pulses  may  beat — beat ! 
(KAFUR  bows  and  hastens  into  the  courtyard.)^  \t 


KISMET  111 


him.)     And  call  thou  the  women  ! 
forth  wilderingJO  VbejitkS^seducing 
^\Song,  andDenumes,  and  dahee-tittj 
What  though  the  Caliph  reap  my  head  to- 
these   last   hours   shall  be   locked  in  my 
breast,  mine  own ! 

^,  t         (KAFUR  bows  and  vanishes.^  ' 
K.UT-AL-K.     (Kneeling  before  MANSUR   and  throwing 
her  arms  about  his  knees)     Thus  do  I  love  my  lord. 
MANSUR.     (Smiling  on  her.)    Dost  thou,  in  sooth? 
Kux-AL-K.    Y<?rm  !     Bid  me  do  aught  to  add  to  thy 

content,  and  I'll  do  it. 
MANSUR.    (In  a  playful  tone.)    Wilt  thou?    Wilt  thou?  J 

KUT  AL-K.     I  swear  it.  _  /  * 

MANSUR.     Thou?     (He  looks  down  at  her,  smiling,    W* 
then    suddenly    spits   in  her  face.       Turning  away/\_ 
with  a  chuckling  sneer.)   Thou — O  bosom  of  burning  ^        . 

desire,  go  thou  and  sleep  1   (He  hurries  off  through  t\S  £* 
the  courtyard.) 

KuT-AL-K.     (Shaking  with   rage,  her  hands  clenched, 
she  groans.)    Wfcb  !     Dog  of  hell !     Poison  thee  I    , 
could  !     Poison  thee  !     (She  sits  on  the  couch  beating  L. 
it    impotently   with   her  fists.)      Poison  h   Poison  ! 
Poison ! 

MISKAH.     (Ifurries  across  to  her,  trying  to  soothe  her.) 
O  dear  my  mistress  !     Doth  Destiny  not  decree  all 
things  for  the  best  ?     If  thy  lord  be  lost  in  the  arms 
of  Maisinah,  wilt  thou  not  be  freer  for  him  whom       j        f    •       >  ' 
thy  soul  desires  ?  /  «%VVlr^fV^\  / 

(A  gentle  tapping  is  heard.) 

Kux-AL-K.     He'll  not  come  !     He'll  not  come  !    'Tis 
long    past    the     hour !      Fate    curses    me    ever ! 

He'll  not  come (Louder  tapping.)     O  Miskah  ! 

Hark  !     (She  sits  erect  and  eager — pointing  to   the 
trap.     The  tapping  is  repeated?)     'Tis  he  !     Unbolt. 
(Kux-AL-K    reclines    on    her    couch,   assuming 
indifference.) 


112  KISMET 

(MiSKAH  goes  and  unbolts  the  grating,  lifting  the 

trap.) 
(HAJJ  enters,  still  wrapped  in  JAWAN'S  white  cloak.) 

*C 

HAJJ.     Peace  to  thee,  O  my  lady  of  radiance.     I  am 

thy  slave  in  very  truth.     My  heart  is  between  thy 

hands,     (ffe  kneels  and  bows.) 
Kux-AL-K.     Thou  ?     By  the  life  of  mine  eyes,  I  had 

forgot  thee  quite.     Comest  thou  at  this  hour  ? 
HAJJ.     Be  not  an-angered,  O  my  princess.     I  have 

faced  death  sevenfold  to  venture  to  thee  to-night. 
Kux-AL-K.     Hush !     My  lord  is  within  the  harim. 
HAJJ.      (Thinking  at  once  of  MARSINAH.)     Mansur? 

In  the  harim?     Is  he  alone?     No  one  with  him? 

No  woman  ? 

Kux-AL-K.     Belike  so  .  .  .     What  matters  it  ? 
HAJJ.    Was  a  maiden  brought  here  a  little  while 

since  ? 

Kux-AL-K.     Yes.     What  of  her  ? 
HAJJ.     Doth  Mansur  know  she's  here  ? 
Kux-AL-K.     (Impatiently.)     Whrftis't  to  thee?    The 

moments  are  slipping  away.     O  my  loved  one,  dost 

thou  not  love  me  ?     (She  smiles  on  him.) 
HAJJ.     (Distracted.)     Love  thee  ?     Yea,  yea,  I  love 

thee.      (He  smiles   a  vacant  smile  at  her)      The 

maiden — the  maiden  is  where  ? 
Kux-AL-K.     What  maiden  ? 
HAJJ.     Marsinah. 
Kux-AL-K.    (Suspiciously.)     Marsinah?     Howcomest 

thou  to  know  her  name  ?    What  is  'this  wench  to 

thee  ?    Who  is  she  ? 
HAJJ.     She  is  my  daughter. 
Kux-AL-K.     Thy  daughter. 
HAJJ.     I  have  said  it. 
Kui-AL-K.     Thy  daughter  !*  (She  rises,  stands  on  the 

couch,  and  bursts  out,  laughing  angrily)     Ak4 


Ha!     Thy  daughter!     Is    such  thy  love    fen  me?_ 
Thou  must  needs  send  thy  daugl 


KISMET 


113 


What 


snippet — a  cluck  unfledc 
-Maftsur  to  mobe  mock  tP!  me 

A  sweet  love,  a  de 
ruin  rf 
HAJJ. 
Kux-AL-K.\What? 

night, — ser 
HAJJ.     (Hope 
Kux-AL-K.     Yei^but  hea/£n  is  just !     Dawn  shall  put 

an  end  to 

HAJJ.     (Rising,  terfUgd.)    Who  told  thee  that  ? 
Kux-AL-K.      WhqX\He,  Mansur.      Torture   is   to 
crown  his  nigl 


rlove !     Allah 


lone? 

her  wife  of  the 
rf£lf  out  of  my  coffers. 


sure. 


HAJJ.     ( Wi 

KUT-AL-K. 

death. 
HAJJ. 


(WithMcry.) 


ave  her  ? 


ery 


Thou  wilt  save  her  ? 
definitely)     After  my 


ThouVust!    Thou  wilt!    O 

"   If*-        X 

ou  wn 
'Kux-AL-K.    An  she  be  so  wonurous  dear  to  thee,  why 

didst  thou  offer  her  to  him  ? 

HAJJ.     He  swore  to  make  her  his  wife,  ^^c  jl  C  ^ 
Kux-AL-K.      (Laughing  wildly?)  ^rfCis  wife  1     Thou 

dost  not  know 
HAJJ.      (DesperateJp^j^Q   Kut-al-Kulub,   save  her, 

save  her  !x*SIipher  into  this  cloak  of  mine  and  let 

her  go  with  me  as  I  came.  ,    ..    '•"'v 

Kux-AL-K.     And  I  be  strangled  aft-^r?  /c^v;^    '< 
HAJJ.     What  hast  thou  to  do  with  another's  escape  ? 

How  shall  Mansur  know  ? 
KUT-AL-K.      (Half  to  herself.)     Ha!    'Twere  a  fit 

revenge  on  him !    A  feast  for  the  bride,  and  no 

bride  to  feast ! 
HAJJ.     Couldst  thou  not  replace  her  by  some  slave 

girl  ?     Did  he  in  truth  see  her  face  ? 
Kux-AL-K.      See  it !      'Twas  her  beauty  made  hire 

mock  me ! 

How?    She  won  him  as  she  was  brought — 

unadoiiied  ? 


,114  KISMET 

KuT-AL-K.     Unadorned,  tear-stained,  a  very  misery  ! 

HAJJ.  And  thou  dost  hesitate  ?  She  can  enslave  his 
senses  thus,  wretched,  ragged  ?  What  then  will  she 
do  with  jewels  hung  in  her  hair,  robes  rich  and  fair,  • 
hnr  bright  ay.fi  Irnhlffl.  ^artipg  lova  svooypJMpW 
I  tell  thee  she'll  steal  the  heart  from  his  breast ! 
Vchh !  Become  queeru  in  thy  stead,  and  thou  be 
lost  to  his  arms  for  eve»/^0  ft  * 

KUT-AL-K.      ( With  sudden  rage.)      Allah  I      I'll   be 
rid    of    this     damned    witch    come    what    may ! 
(Clapping  her  hands.)      Ho!     Miskah !      Haste! 
Haste!    (To  HAJJ.)    Thy  cloak!    Thy  cloak  I 

(MISKAH  hurries  to  her  mistress!) £ 
(HAJJ  hands  his  cloak  to  MISKAH.)  ; 

KUT-AL-K.  Take  it !  Throw  it  over  the  accursed 
one  robing  in  my  chamber.  Bring  her  hither.  Lose 
not  an  instant. 

MISKAH.     With  obedience. 

(She  hurries  off  with  HAJJ'S  cloak.]^  »  Jt£ 

HAJJ.  (Coming to  Kux-AL-K  and  kneeling,  with  utmost 
gratitude.)  By  Him  who  fashioned  thee  in  thy 
splendour,  thou  art  indeed  the  noblest  of  thy 
sisterhood. 

Kux-AL-K.  (Dryly — eyeing  him.)  Are  thy  desires 
contented  ? 


i    ( 


KHAjj.     Contented?     I  kiss  the  fringe  of  thy  gown, 
the  hollow  of  thy  hand,  O  thou  soul  of  liberality. 
Kux-AL-K.     (Looking  at  him,  her  mouth  twitching?) 

*  'Tiswe11-  ^V*-U 

(MISKAH  re-enters  with  MARSINAH,  who  is  com- 
pletely cloaked.) 

HAJJ.     (Rising,  moving  towards  her.)   O  Marsinah  I 
MARSINAH.     (Surprised?)     O  my  father      .  . 

(They  embrace.) 


KISMET  115 

Kux-AL-K.  (Impatiently!)  No  words.  (To  MISKAH.) 
Lead  her  forth  by  the  secret  passage.  Out  and  away 
with  her. 

MISKAH.  Away  ?  She's  in  thy  richest  robes,  unworn 
as  yet  by  thee  ! 

Kux-AL-K.  (Impatiently!)  What  matter  robes  ?  (To 
HAJJ.)  Whither  is  she  to  be  taken  ? 

HAJJ.     I'll  go  with  her. 

KUT-AL-K.  Wait  thou.  Let  her  go  first  and  pass 
beyond  the  outer  gates.  'Tis  safer.  Whither  ? 

HAJJ.  (To  MISKAH.)  Take  her  to  the  Mosque  of  the 
Carpenters  —  to  Imam  Mahmud.  Say  I  commit  her 
to  his  charge  under  Allah.  Tell  him  she's  my 
daughter,  —  the  daughter  of  Hajj,  the  beggar. 

Kux-AL-K.  (Starts  and  gives  HAJJ  a  look,  which  he 
does  not  see.)  Hajj  —  the  beggar. 

(MARSINAH  and  MISKAH  leave  by  the  trap.') 

(Directly  the  twojiave  disappeared  down  the  trap,     '  , 
Kux-AL-K.  goes  to  the  grating  and  flings  it  to, 
turning  round  and  facing  HAJJ.)  £jl,~ 

KuT-AL-K.  (Hoarsely).  Hajj,  the  beggar  I  The 
beggar,  Hajj.  IWph  !  Is  it  to  thy  like  that  I  have 
offered  amorous  mercy  ?  And  is  it  by  thy  like  that 
I  have  been  laughed  to  scorn  ?  A  beggar  !  A  beggar 
to  sneer  at  me,  to  spurn  me  !  I,  of  the  old  blood  of 
Egypt  lv*.£  l 

HAJJ.   Heaven  forbid  I  should  spurn  thee,  O  my  love. 

KUT-AL-K.  Love  !  Love  !  Thou  !  Thou  earnest  for 
one  purpose  alone  —  thy  daughter.  'Tis  well  1  She 
is  saved.  But  by  Allah,  not  thou  ! 

HAJJ.     Not  ? 

KUT-AL-K.  We  enter  the  hammam  free.  Out  we  pass 
not  unless  we  pay. 

HAJJ.     (With  horror)     Kut-al-Kulub  ! 

KUT-AL-K.  The  grating  is  shut  ;  the  latch  my  secret. 
A  blissful  night  to  thee,  and  a  blessed,  O  my  beggar 
of  love.  (She  turns  to  pass  him.]*:  .y/^ 


l~yU 


116  KISMET 

HAJJ.  (Following  and  clutching  her :)  O,  Kut-al-Kulub, 
thou'lt  not  betray  me  !  Not  doom  me  thus  to  my 
death  ? 

Kux-AL-K.     Dost  thou  touch  me,  O  thou  dog  ? 

HAJJ.  Yes,  I  touch  thee,  I  hold  thee,  I  clasp  thee  ! 
(He  sinks  down  before  her,  clasping  her  knees  in  his 
arms.)  Hcie  on  mv  tumbling  kuceo.  mine  amis 


about  thy  white  beauty.    O  Kut-al-Kulub,  thOtTTnust 
*....—  --.  * 

htrteii  to  me. 

Kux-AL-K.     Off  with   thine   arms,  thou  filth  of  the 
gutter.  ^L   \^ 

HAJJ.    Never !    Never  !    Never  1 
Kux-AL-K.      How  ?      Force    me  ?      Force/?      (She 
releases    herself,    shouting}     Ho,    Manser !      Ho, 
Mansur !   (She  hurries  to  a  gong  by  the  door  and  beats  it 
with  her  fist.)     ^  thr  TU"         f  *"     f     Ho,  Mansur ! 
HAJJ.    (Between  his  teeth.)    Now  Allah  kill  all  woman-f 
kind.     (He  turns  and  crouches  in  the  corner  *532Tp 
(MANSUR  appears  in  the  courtyard.     He  is  clad 
in  a  thin  robe  of  yellow,  as  coming  from  his 
bath.     KAFUK  follows  him.} 

MANSUR.     (Annoyed.)    What  now? 

Kux-AL-K.    ( With  supreme  scorn.)     Behold  !    A  man 

in  thy  harim  ! ! 

MANSUR.      A   man  ?      ( He  snatches  the  sword  from 
KAFUR.     To  KAFUR.)     Take  her  within^*  H 

M 
(Kux-AL-K  turns  and  as  she  goes  laughs  a  low 

laugh,  full  of  the   satisfaction    of  revenge. 
KAFUR  follows  her.) 

(MANSUR  comes  down  slowly,  step  by  step,  sword 
in  hand ;  he  is  slightly  under  the  influence  of 
drink.) 

(HAJJ  lies  quite  still  on  his  knees,  hiding  his  face 
behind  a  cushion  he  has  picked  up.  MANSUR 
raises  the  sword,  ready  to  run  at  HAJJ.) 


KISMET  117 

(HAJJ  lifts  up  his  head  suddenly  and  faces 
MANSUR.) 

MANSUR.     (Starting,  amazed.)    Hajj  ?    Am  I   alive  ? 
HAJJ.     Only  to  die ! 

(Taking  advantage  of 'M.AXSV'tis  amazement,  he 
throws  the  cushion  at  him,  warding  off 
MANSUR'S  blow  of  the  scymitar.  But  in 
trying  to  pass  MANSUR,  he  slips  and  falls  on 
his  knees  sinking  backwards.  The  full  moon- 
light shines  on  HAJJ,  revealing  the  chain  he  took 
from  JAWAN'S  body) 

MANSUR.  (About  to  strike,  sees  the  chain,  arrests  the 
sword  and  gazes  intently)  By  the  Living  !  Whence 
comes  that  amulet  on  thy  breast?  That  broken 
hand  of  Fatimah !  Speak  !  Nought  shall  befall 
thee.  I  swear  it  by  the  One,  the  Eternal !  I  mean 
my  words.  Look !  }• 

(He  throws  the  sword  from  him  and  reveals  the 
other  half  of  the  broken  hand  on  a  chain  on 
his  own  breast) 

HAJJ.      (Amazed)      Ah!  —  The     Broken    hand    of 

Fatimah  !    Then  thou  art  Yusuf? 
MANSUR.     Yes,  I  am  Yusuf.     Who  art  thou  ? 
HAJJ.    I  ?    (He  steadies  himself  on  his  knees  ;  deliberately 

looking  him  in  the  eye)     I  ?     I  am  thy  father.     (He 

rises) 

MANSUR.     (Doubtfully)     Thou  ? 
HAJJ.     Yes,  I  am  he  who  hath  searched  for  thee  year 

on  year,  ever  since  the  day  the  Caliph  captured  thee, 

O  my  son. 
MANSUR.     (Beginning  to  believe  HAJJ.)     YcfflP!    Art 

thou  he  in  sooth  ? 
HAJJ.     Am  I  he  ?     Canst  thou  not  recall  my  tent  in 

the  wild  and  wold  ?     And  the  enemy's  dust-cloud 

walling  the  horizon  ?    And  my  bending  over  thee 


118  KISMET 

«  c 

and   snapping  this  talisman  in  twain,  giving   thee 

half,  keeping  half? 

MANSUR.     I  recall  it  well.     Art  thou  my  father  ? 
HAJJ.     Look,  the  pieces  fit.    (He  joins  the  two  chains?) 

The  hand  is  one,  as  our  blood  is.     Dost  thou  still 

doubt  ? 

MANSUR.     Thou  ?    But  thou  art  Hajj — the  beggar. 
HAJJ.     I  have  been  many  things  since  I  lost  thee,  O 

my  Yusuf. 

MANSUR.     My  mother !    Her  name  ? 
HAJJ.     Gulnar. 
MANSUR.     Gulnar — yes!  That  was  her  name.    Thoul 

Fate  is  a  juggler — the  greatest  of  them  all. 
HAJJ.     On  thy  knees,  O  true-born  son,  that  I  may  call 

down  blessings  upon  thee  as  I  did  in  the  years 

long  gone.     Down  !  Down  ! 
MANSUR.     (Overcome,  kneels  before  HAJJ,  bending  his 

head,")     O  my  father  !    ,  ^     <    :  /» *-_..«  .*.•*•*•**.  - 

(HAJJ  smiling  in  triumph  over  MANSUR,  draws 
his  knife  stealthily.) 

HAJJ.  May  Allah  send  thy  soul — damnation !  (He 
plunges  the  knife  into  MANSUR'S  back  between  the 
shoulder  blades.  It  enters  up  to  the  hilt.) 

(MANSUR  groaning  aloud  "  Wah  "  and  clutching 
at  HAJJ,  rises  and  struggles  with  him) 

UAJJ.  O  snake,  O  son  of  snake !  I  have  scotched 
thee  !  Thee  and  thy  father  both  in  one  day. 

MANSUR.  My  father!  (Groans.)  O  thou  hog  of 
hell! 

HAJJ.  Yes,  thy  true  father,  Jawan,  the  White  Sheikh ! 
He,  who  defiled  Gulnar,  as  thou  wouldst  defile 
Marsinah  !  Ha !  Ha  !  Allah  is  just !  Scratch, 
wouldst  thou?  Q  then  rntj  fhnn  mimm  uf  iuf ! 
(Lifting  him  up)  Into  the  water  with  thee! 
Vermin  must  be  drowned. 

(Lifting  MANSUR  bodily,  he  hurls  him  into  th* 


KISMET  119 

water.  MANSUR  tries  to  climb  out  of  the 
tank  on  the  lower  side,  but  HAJJ  intercepts 
him,  grasps  him  by  the  throat,  and  holds  him 
under  the  wafer.  MANSUR  clutches  HAJJ'S 
arm,  but  in  vain.  HAJJ  leans  over  the  edge  of 
the  pool,  pushing  MANSUR  down  into  the 
water.  MANSUR'S  hands  can  be  seen  clinging 
desperately  to  HAJJ'S  arm.) 

HAJJ.  That's  for  Marsinah !  Marsinah,  dost  thou 
hear  ?  How  ?  Swear  by  the  Koran  to  wed  her, 
and  then  debauch  and  torture  her  ?  Ha  !  Ha  ! 
'Twas  not  written  !  This  bath  of  thine  was  written 
instead.  May  it  profit  thee  till  doomsday.  Drink 
it,  dost  thou?  'Tis  well !  Thou  wert  even  fond  of 
wetting  thy  gullet.  (A  bubbling  noise  -u  -d  splashing!) 
Take  thy  fill!  Ha!  Good,  is'^  bubble,  bubble! 
(A  desperate  splash.  One  <f  MAJ^^UR'S  hands  climbs 
higher  on  HAJJ'S  arms.)  H'hat?  Whistle?  The 
devils  whistle  they  oa".  Art  thou  in  hell  so  soon, 

joining    thy    fat',? .<•,    tLe {The  left  hand  falls 

lifeless  froir  jlAjj's  arm.)  At  last !  Silent 
bubbles— --oncy— two, — no  more  ?  Nay,  look  not 
so  lan.e  eyed.  'Tis  very  simple.  The  springs  of 
tli^i;;t:  are  i.peut.-  (A  slight  pause.  With  a 
sigh  of  relief,  HAJJ  draws  his  wet  arm  from  the 
water,  and  kneels  with  his  back  to  the  spectator,  his 
right  arm  raised  to  heaven  fervently)  O  Allah ! 
Thou  hast  delivered  into  my  hands  the  father ! 
Thou  hast  delivered  into  my  hands  the  son ! 
Glorified  be  thy  Glory !  O  Lord  of  the  three 
Worlds  !  Thou,  the  One,  the  Eternal ! 

(A  sudden  confused  murmur  of  voices,  distant 
cries  and  the  clash  of  steel.  !  HAJJ  turns  and 

sits  riveted.     The  noise  increases.) 
•J 

(The  door  W burst  open,  and  .several  ARCHERS 
of  the  Caliph  enter,  some  with  torches,  some 
with  scymitars  drawn.  The  CALIPH  himself 


/  / 


120  KISMET 

J  f  allows  ',  his  sword  unsheathed,  .his  cloak 
thrown  back  revealing  a  gorgeous  silver  armour 
and  violet  robes.  NARJIS  comes  next.  KAFUR, 
AFIFE  and  SERVANTS  of  MANSUR'S  household 
crowd  in  after  the  others.') 

CALIPH.  Break  open  the  doors  !  Find  the  women  ! 
Bring  them  to  me  ! 

(Soldiers  hurry  off  in  various  directions!) 

CALIPH.  (Turning  to  NARJIS)  Dost  thou  still  swear 
that  Marsinah  was  brought  hither  by  Mansur's 
eunuchs  ? 

NARJIS.  Did  I  not  see  them  drag  her  away  from  our 
very  door? 


(KuT-AL-K  is  brought  in  by  the  CAPTAIN  OF     ^. 
THE  WATCH  ;  other  WOMEN  follow  led  on  by 
the  SOLDIERS.) 

KuT-AL-K.     (Kneeling.)     Mercy,   O   mercy,  O  Com- 
mander of  the  Faithful ! 
CALIPH.     Where's  Marsinah? 
KuT-AL-K.  Marsinah's  fled  to  the  Carpenter's  Mosque/^- 

'Twas    at    the    entreaties   of   yon   wretch    that   I 

consented    to   her   escape.     (She  points    to  HAJJ 

grovelling  in  the  dark.) 
CALIPH.    (Turning  and  seeing  ~H.h]].)    The  Moorman  ! 

l£^bl      What     magic    brings    thee   hither    from 

prison  ? 
HAJJ.     Allah  hath  freed  me  so  I  might  render  thee 

service.     (Taking  a  torch  from  a  soldier  and  holding 

it  over  the  bath.)     Behold ! 

CALIPH.     (Looking  down  into  the  water.)     Mansur  ? 
Kux-AL-K.       (Gazing    into    the    fool.')       Mansur! 

Awah !     (She  sinks  down  by  edge  of  bath  with  a 

wail.) 
HAJJ.     Mansur.     Now,  say  me,  have  I  not  atoned 

for  my  crime? 


S»~£\ 


KISMET 


121 


ed  of  thine  can  wipe  out  thy  attempt 
Thy  death  is  fixed  and  unalterable. 
Kill  the  father  of  Marsinah  ? 
Thou  ?     But  thou  art  the  Moorman  ? 
oth !    Twp   persons  in   one,   both   at  thy 


CALIPH.     No 

upon  my  lif 
NARJIS.     Watr  ! 
CALIPH. 
HAJJ. 

feet. 
CALIPH.     So  thou  art  the  sire  of  her  whom  Allah  hath 

revealed  unto  my  heart  ? 
HAJJ.      (Looking    up.}       Marsinah? 

pardoned  ? 
CALIPH.       Pardoned?      What    religion    were    mine 

should  I  pardon  the  hand  thou  didst  raise  against 

my  sacred  person  ?     Yet  art  thou  also  the  father  of 

my  chosen  bride,,'  Sny  mn  then,  wlmi  hluill  In   lliji 
•    lot? 


Am    I    then 


CALIPH.  Be  thou  banished  !  Banished  from  Baghdad, 
from  my  sight,  from  the  sight  of  thy  daughter. 
Banished  as  one  who  had  never  been.  -Tu-wuauw 
by  dnim  he  ona  with 


g 


O  King,  be  royal 


HAJJ.     (Appealingly?)    Banished  ! 
and  show  me  mercy. 

CALIPH.  I  have  shown  thee  mercy  far  beyond  justice. 
My  word  is  spoken.  Go  ! 

HAJJ.  (ftwunijr  Hr  frrmf  .fri/ftr  jrnmrf.)  'liillB  1L  iffi 
majesty  nor  might  save  in  Allah,  the  Glorious,  the 
Great.  (He  rises  slowly?)  Woe  is  me  !  Woe  is  me. 
/Hi  !  •  WgJi  !  Never  to  see  her  again,  the  daughter 
of  my  bosom.  Never  again  to  touch  her  hand,  to 
press  my  lips  upon  her  eyes.  O  sons  of  Adam, 
beget  not  children  I  -Hf  Him,  lllL  UilllCl 

l)i  [ji  I  lltnirTniil  !    The  agony  of  their  los 


ceedeth  far  the  rapture  of  fatherhood. 
fr  ever  !  Rend  thy  robe,  O 
breast  1  Thy  joy  in  life  is 
tdlft»  upun  Ll'lliU  flb  Ull  IL'51  ^ulm»iit.  Dark  is  every- 
where. I  Ashes  !  Ashes  !  (He  teaches  the  brazier. 
It  has  ceased  burning  some  time  before.  Taking  the 


122  KISMET 

as  fits  from  if,  he  strews  them  on  his  head,  then  turns 
to  the  door,  beating  his  breast?)  Out  —  out,  thou  cut- 
off moment  of  time  !  TntnibnTi  ill  llPTTr'nU'Tlnn 
with-thei,  O  'tiJUU  fofgettem  grain  -of"  the  &UIK11J  of 
man  !  Marsinah  is  dead  to  thee,  thou  dead  to 
Marsinah!  Awah  !  Awah!  Awah!  {He  staggers 
out  by  the  dyer,  rending  his  garment  and  wailing 
aloud.) 


' 


[Oj 


The  street  before  the  Mosque  of  the  Carpenters 
The  same  scene  as  at  the  opening  of  the  play. 

Moonlight. 

The  BEGGAR  KASIM  is  seated  on  HAJJ'S  stone, 
just  as  HAJJ  installed  him  at  sunrise. 

Down  the  alley  from  the  left  come  cries  of  moaning 
"Wah!  Wah!  Wah  I  "  and  HAJ  j  appears, 
breathless,  dishevelled  and  tottering.  He 
hurries  to  the  Mosque  and  knocks  frantically 
at  the  door. 

MAHMUD.     (Coming  out  and  standing  on  the  steps.) 

Hajj? 
HAJJ.     (Sinking  down.)     O  my  father  !     I  have  run 

to  thee  clinging  from  wall  to  wall  in  my  anguish. 

Where's  Marsinah? 
MAHMUD.    She  is  safe  within. 
HAJJ.     Bring  her  forth  I  pray  thee.     We  must  flee  the 

city.     The  Caliph  covets  her. 
MAHMUD.     What  devil  possesses  thee?    Take  thy 

daughter  from  the  Caliph  ?    Rob  her  of  the  blessing 

of  blessings  ? 
HAJJ.  I  am  banished.  I  mutt  ne»ui  ULL  hu  tig,aiu.  Jftill 


KISMET  123 

'ry  clot  in  my  heart  I  love 


O  Hajj !     Look  within  thee  ! 
child  and  call  it  love  ? 

MAHMUD.     When  must  thou  go  from  Baghdad  ? 

HAJJ.     By  dawn. 

MAHMUD.  Dawn  !  To-morrow  the  caravans  set  out 
for  Meccah.  WQC»  fKrvn  n^h^  in  rha  wnll  nf 
Zemzem?  Kissld  the  sacred  stone?  Encircled 
the  holy  Kaabah  1 

HATT.     (Crestfallen.^N^ 

M  AH  MUD.  By  whatlirfit  then  dost  thou  call  thyself 
Hajj,  the  Pilgrim  T*fa aught  hast  thou  done  for  thy 
endless  days  beyond  the  grave.  Thou  art  no 
Moslem ;  no  son  of  Islam.  Thou  art  an  infidel. 

HAJJ.     ( With  a  cry  of  horror,}    Ah  !     O  my  father ! 

Infidel! 

(A  sound  of  distant  trumpets,  kettledrums  and 
singing  is  heard  approaching  from  the  left.) 

HAJJ.      The    Caliph !— Marsinah !      (Pleading)      O 

Mahmud, — Marsinah  ! 
MAHMUD.     Conquer  thyself.     Turn  from  the  world. 

Seek  salvation. 
HAJJ.     Marsinah ! 
MAHMUD.    I  tell  thee  verily  this  is  thine  hour  appointed, 

thine  hour  of  hours.     An  thou  so  much  as  raise  an  .    iLv^r 


eye  to  mar  thy  child's  fortune,  thy  doom  shall  be  y          , 
flame  and  fire.  +4fc-  . 

HAJ-J.    (/nujunji.pr Awahl    Awah !     Am  ah  I  /H*^4x* 

-**  ^* 

(^f/  Ma/  moment  the  CALIPH'S  CHAMBERLAIN, 
with  a  wand  of  office,  hurries  on  from  the  left 
and  crosses  to  the  Mosque)  ,/ir- 

CHAMBERLAINX  O  Imam !     The  Commander  of  the 
Faithful  comem  to  claim  the  maid  Marsinah. 


124  KISMET 

MAHMUD.     Hearkening  and  obedience !    Wi 
enter  ? 

^ff^ 

(The  CHAMBERLAIN  enters  the  Mosque,  MAHMUD 

following  him.      HAJJ  stands  irresolute ;  with 

hands  clenched.     But  as  the  music  approaches, 

he    turns    and    hides    in    the    shadow    of 

a    wall.       The    Wedding    Procession    enters 

from   the  left,  headed  by  a  group  of  MALE 

MUSICIANS  :  SINGERS,  about  eight  in  number, 

with  a  leader  in  their  midst ;  THREE  MEN 

with  huge  tambourines  ;  other's  with  pipes  and 

clarionets.     They  are  singing  as  they  come?) 

Bespread  the  streets  with  tapestries, 
H%ng  carpets  fromVhe  balconie\; 
An\  from  the  roof-tops  flower-difct 
RainSaard,  and  musk7fcnd  amber&ris , 
The  Caljj>h  Moon  has  risen  bright^ 
To  seek  tHe  Star  of  his  cfyig 
Then  hail  unto  this  gloriou^night, 
Wrfen-eaith  makes  ^Jim-thfi^u  i  LII'J,  IkliU, 

{After  the  Musicians  comes  the  HERALD  bearing 
aloft  the  black  banner  of  the  house  of  Abbas, 
followed  by  THREE  COURT  DIGNITARIES 
swinging  incense.  Next  comes  the  CALIPH, 
followed  by  ABU  BAKR.  Behind  the  CALIPH 
walk  Ti?y^  WAZIRS  each  carrying  a  five- 
branched  candle-stick  in  the  shape  of  an.  out- 
spread hand.  After  the  CALIPH  Six  BOYS 
with  baskets  of  flowers  which  they  scatter. 
V^REE  more  DIGNITARIES  follow,  swinging 
incrnse.  Then  appears  a  curtained  litter  of 
gold  borne  by  Two  NEGROES  ;  on  either  side  of 
it  TH\Jfb  EUNUCHS  with  Jim  fra,uM  ntWfr 
sticks.  A  second  group  of  MUSICIANS,  con- 
sisting of  several  instrumentalists  conclude 
the  procession.  As  soon  as  the  CALIPH 


KISMET  125 

reaches  the  Mosque  doors,  the  procession  halts  ; 
the  music  ceases  and  the  doors  are  flung  open). 

(MARSINAH  appears  on  the  steps  in  a  flood  of 
light,  beautifully  attired  and  veiled.  MAHMUD 
and  the  CHAMBERLAIN  follow  her.} 

CALIPH.  (Taking  a  step  forward}  The  Peace  upon 
thee  ! 

MARSINAH.  (Looking  up.)  Thou ?  But  thou  art 

the  gardener's  son !  How  is  this  splendour  possible  ? 

CALIPH.  O  my  Marsinah  !  All  I  have  told  thee  is 
truth  save  one  Ithing.  I  am  not  what  I  let  thee 
believe. 

MARSINAH.     Not  the  gardener's  son  ? 

CALIPH.     Not  the  gardener's  son. 

MARSINAH.     Greater  ?    A  merchant  ? 

CALIPH.     Alas — even  greater. 

MARSINAH.     A  Kazi  ? 

CALIPH.     Yet  more. 

MARSINAH.     A  Prince  1 

CALIPH.     Higher  still. 

MARSINAH.  (Close  to  him.)  Still — ?  Who  art  thou 

then  ?  Thou  art  not — not  the  Highest  ?  *  *  *  -/trt_u* 

CALIPH.     The  Pardoner  pardon  me — I  am  '  A^U 

MARSINAH.  (In  awe.}  The  Caliph.  (Sinks  to  her 
knees}  ©h,  what  a  boldness  hath  been  mine  !  How 
can  I  sinA deep  enough  before  thee  ? 

CALIPH.  Kneel  ?  Thou  ?  Wouldst  thou  double  my 
shame  by  pegging  forgiveness  ?  Have  I  lost  all 
thy  love  ? 

MARSINAH.  O\ny  lord,  how  dare  I  love  thee  after 
this? 

CALIPH.  Even  asM!  love  thee.  By  the  Grace  of  the 
Uniter  of  heart  and  heart,  who  hath  brought  thee  to 
me,  and  me  to  theauoining  us  one  and  inseparable, 
from  this  day  to  theSday  when  shall  come  the  Des- 
troyer of  delights,  me  Shatterer  of  palaces,  the 
Ender  of  all  things  eartNy — till  Death  1 


126  KISMET 

MARSINAH.     (Rises.)     Is  this  a  dream  ? 

CALIPH. 

All  things  are  dreams  till  Allah  sayeth  "  Be "  I 
When  soul  finds  soul,  as  I — -Beloved,  thee  1 

MARSINAH. 

My  life  is  thine  unto  the  latest  hour, 
Nor  shall  Death  rob  my  love's  eternity. 

(The  CALIPH  touches  his  forehead  and  his  heart, 
then  motions  MARSINAH  to  the  litter.) 

MARSINAH  bows  before  him,  kissing  her  finger- 
tips and  raising  them  to  her  brow ;  then 
crosses  him.  She  is  assisted1  into  the  litter  by 
ABU  BAKR.) 

(The  Procession  moves  off  to  the  right,  the 
combined  groups  of  MUSICIANS  playing  and 
singing.) 

ALL. 

SeaXhigh  the  maid  and  bridal  throne, 
To  rul^this  night  of  nights  alone ; 
Whilst  kneels  to  her  divinity, 
The  mightieHof  monarchs  prone. 
Then  draw  the\urtain  sweet  with  spice, 
On  Lord  of  LorosVnd  Pearl  of  Price — 
He  crowned  by  herV^rginity, 
She  by  his  manhood's  Paradise. 
And  Allah  the  Uniter  bles^sy 
Their  love  with  joyance  limitless  I 

(MAHMUD  locks  the  door  of  the  Mosque) 

(HAJJ  has  risen  as  MARSINAH  goes  to  the  litter,  V 
drawn  by  an  irresistible  desire  to   approach 
her.     But  MAHMUD'S  eye  is  upon  him  and  he 
hesitates.     As  the  curtains  of  the  litter  shut 


KISMET  127 

ever  his  child,  he  stands  transfixed,  a  figure  of 
grief  against  the  gorgeousness  behind  him.) 

(The procession  is  gone  but  he  does  not  move.) 

(MAHMUD  watches  him  closely  from  the  door-step 
of  the  Mosque.  The  song  dies  away  in  the 
distance.) 

MAHMUD.     O  Hajj !     Thou  hast  learnt  to  renounce. 

Allah  hath  opened  to  thee  the  path   of  Pardon  ! 

Set  forth  at  sunrise  without  fear. 
HAJJ.     (In  an  exalted  strain  raising  his  right  hand) 

To  Meccah  !    To  Meccah  ! 
MAHMUD.     And   the  peace  upon  thee  now  and  for 

ever. 
HAJJ.     And  on  thee,  O  Mahmud,  peace  and  blessing. 

(MAHMUD  goes  slowly  up  the  street  to  the  left  and 

disappears) 
HAJJ.     (Stands  a  moment  alone  in  the  moonlight,  then 

almost  like  a  child  he  says.)     I  am  tired. 

(He  turns  to  his  old  stone,  upon  which,  to  his 
great  surprise,  he  finds  KASIM  sitting?) 

HAJJ.     By  my  head!   What  dog  art  thou?     Out  of 

my  seat ! 

KASIM.     Thou  didst  give  it  me  at  dawn. 
HAJJ.     And  I  take  it  again  at  dark  !     That  is  Fate  ! 

Tu>^^rfiplT  r  may  W 

Caliph  *  (KASIM  rises  and,  dropping  the  beggar's 
cloak  HAJJ  gave  him  at  sunrise,  goes  off  by  the  alley, 
left.  HAJJ  takes  it  and  wraps  himself  in  it  once 
more,  then  sits  down  on  his  seat  with  a  loud  sigh  of 

relief^     Fi  miULJ  ilinn  I     ThrrrV -f m  n  li    In 

it.  A  taste  of  having  lived !  And  I  have  lived 
to^ay.  Mine  enemies  dead, — Marsinah  wed, — 
Meccah  to-morrow,— (He yawns  prodigiously^)  My"* 


128 


KISMET 


say  is  said.     So 
He  who  begettetl; 
Tide 

Ijohamniedjhis^rophet — chojew^— amongst 
Mankind Peace  and 

(A  gentle  snore;  another  snore,  louder ;  another ) 


[SLOW  CURTAIN] 


End  of  the  Play 


LONDON  :   PRINTED    BY  WFLLIAM   CLOWES   AND   SONS,    LIMITED. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A     000  976  428     3 


